Face Off: Macon contributing to Georgia’s economy in a big way

Writer: Eleana Teran

June 2025 — Long regarded as a historic and logistical center in Georgia, Macon is gaining traction as a dynamic hub for economic growth, innovation, and community revitalization. With developments reshaping the cityscape and a collective focus on creating opportunity, Macon’s resurgence highlights the power of strategic collaboration and targeted investment.

Significant expansions announced by Irving Tissue and First Quality Baby Products, along with major investments in key sectors such as healthcare, education, and defense, has allowed the area to record more than $1 billion in new investment commitments over the past year, according to Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority figures.

The city and wider region are set to further revitalize the downtown area, the population grows in urban corridors through new residential and multifamily construction, as cited by NewTown Macon. 

In terms of green space, a proposed national park designation of the Ocmulgee Mounds, east of Macon, is anticipated to generate substantial economic benefits as Georgia’s first national park. If plans go through and the park is re-designated to a National Park and Preserve, total economic activity is projected to exceed $200 million annually, supporting nearly 3,000 new jobs, with an annual increase of $29.8 million in tax revenue over the next 15 years. 

To delve deeper into this and more factors driving Macon’s growth and development, Focus: spoke with Jessica Walden, president and CEO of the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce, and James Fritze, president and CEO of NewTown Macon. They shared their perspectives on the city’s growth drivers, the role of collaboration, and the initiatives shaping Macon’s future.

What recent developments or collaborative efforts best reflect the momentum and growth you’re seeing in Macon?

Jessica Walden: One of the most exciting indicators of Macon’s momentum is the transformation of the old mall site into a state-of-the-art amphitheater, turning an underused, dying property into a vibrant concert venue that can seat up to 12,000. Downtown Macon is also alive with energy and investment. Last year, we had over $1 billion in industry investment. This isn’t the work of the Chamber, but it’s the spirit of collaboration driving this growth that is one of the biggest wins of the year.

James Fritze: Over the past four or five years, Macon has done a remarkable job of collaborating on projects that require close coordination between the county and the private sector. Mayor Lester Miller and his staff have been strong supporters of our efforts. Under his leadership and through the collective work happening downtown, we’ve made significant progress, and it’s been incredibly rewarding.

 

How are strategic initiatives and community investments helping to position Macon for sustainable growth and greater economic opportunity?

Walden: One of our greatest strengths as a Chamber is our ability to connect people. We serve as the convener — bringing businesses, leaders, and resources to the same table — and the connector, making sure those relationships turn into real opportunities for growth.

Our advocacy efforts extend beyond business. We’re helping shape Georgia’s future with the Ocmulgee National Park designation, a project nearly a century in the making, that will spur astronomical economic growth. Our ‘Choose Macon’ and ‘Greater Career Works’ initiatives are built to harness this momentum, connecting people to places and careers that will attract and retain residents and contributors to our workforce.

Macon’s central location is one of our biggest strategic assets. We sit at the intersection of the state — in order to get to the world’s busiest airport in Atlanta or the largest seaport in Savannah, you’ve got to come through Macon. But what also has us positioned is our track record of success and readiness to make it happen.

Fritze: Macon is fortunate to have a rich stock of historic buildings downtown. Like many cities, it saw a decline in the 1970s as people moved to the suburbs and malls expanded. NewTown was formed in the late ’90s to reverse that trend, and it took about 15 to 20 years to find the right approach. Our strategy has been to restore these buildings by adding residential lofts on upper floors and commercial or retail spaces at street level.

Over the past six to eight years, we’ve gone from just 25 downtown residents to more than 1,500. We’ve built around 1,000 lofts in just over a decade, and 300 more are underway. In two years, we expect downtown’s population to reach 1,600 to 1,700.

There’s a strong link between downtown living and business growth: for every 15 new residents, we typically see one new business. Macon’s walkability, with its restaurants, venues, bars, shops, and green spaces, makes it a vibrant “city in a park” that continues to grow.

The Urban Development Authority hosts the Macon Action Plan on its website. Now in its third version, the plan outlines detailed strategies we’re pursuing, including expanding and diversifying downtown’s housing. People who live here genuinely enjoy the experience.

What sectors or initiatives are driving innovation and supporting economic development in Macon today?

Walden: We have two major healthcare systems in the region, and healthcare continues to be a dominant and important industry sector. There is also health education and the innovation that comes with it. Mercer Medicine just announced plans for its new medical school, located at the gateway of our downtown. Additionally, we are a defense community. Our region is home to Robins Air Force Base, which is one of the largest employers in the state of Georgia. It is a military installation specifically working on defense and on the cutting edge of technology. This is why STEM initiatives are important in the region, which help meet the local workforce demands as employers’ needs will continue to change rapidly in the coming years. 

Macon remains an education hub, from pre-K to Ph.D. From Mercer’s engineering, law, and medical schools to Central Georgia Technical College’s skills training, we’re producing talent across the spectrum.

Fritze: As a Community Development Financial Institution, or CDFI, a federal designation under the Treasury Department, we’re able to partner with banks and leverage funds for community impact. This lets us do more than just finance real estate projects. We also support entrepreneurs by offering business planning guidance and running adult learning programs that help people develop sound business plans.

Part of our loan fund is dedicated to helping startups launch. Once someone receives a loan from us, they become part of the NewTown family — we provide coaching, regular check-ins, and hands-on support. It’s a different model from traditional banking. We offer technical assistance to help borrowers succeed.

In Macon and many communities like it, economic growth hinges on small businesses getting off the ground. That’s where we’re seeing the most momentum, and it’s a major focus of NewTown’s mission.

For more information, please visit:

https://www.maconchamber.com/
https://newtownmacon.com/