NewTown Macon – Macon, Georgia
Situated on the banks of the Ocmulgee River, downtown Macon is bustling with over 120 locally owned and operated restaurants, retailers, and entertainment venues. In 1996, the same district struggled with boarded up storefronts and neglected, vacant buildings. Where many saw a dead and decaying downtown, others envisioned a world-class city. Through the tenacious leadership of various stakeholders, the community rallied to form NewTown Macon which began implementing transformation strategies rooted in the Main Street Approach™. Macon officially became a Main Street community in 2011 and NewTown Macon adopted the Main Street program in 2018, leading to more synergy in Macon’s revitalization efforts and strengthened communication efforts amongst all downtown stakeholders.
NewTown Macon’s core values of local loyalty, imagination, action, empowerment, and accountability, serve as cornerstones for the organization’s commitment to grassroots revitalization efforts. To ensure that their work reflects the diversity of the community, NewTown Macon engages in initiatives designed to foster a welcoming district and to nurture generational wealth building through entrepreneurship and property ownership. The organization bolsters their commitment to attracting, retaining, and growing small businesses with engaging promotional events that encourage visitors to patronize downtown retailers. Through accessible loan capital using historic tax credits, NewTown Macon has added 371 units of housing, 67 storefronts, and over 1000 residents. The organization has also helped 23 local entrepreneurs purchase and renovate commercial spaces for their businesses and has leveraged $4.5 million to fund 100 grants pitched and implemented by residents designed to realize visions outlined in the Macon Action Plan.
Now, the downtown is a thriving hub of activity for residents, visitors, and entrepreneurs eager to create a vibrant and prosperous future for generations of Maconites to come.
Learn more about NewTown Macon here >