INVESTORREPORT Q2 2025
The Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce and One Macon identified key initiatives aimed at accelerating our community's growth. This joint effort, known as Forward Macon, focuses on four main priorities: building a skilled workforce, attracting and retaining top talent, fostering startups, and revitalizing neighborhoods.
PILLAR I - IMPROVE WORKFORCE
Implement GreaterCareerWorks.org, a web-based app that links recruitment, skill-building, and career navigation into one collaborative system.
17,005 to 17,089
15 New Applications
Career Card Views
1,040 New Views
Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce continues to operate and update the Greater Career Works platform (greatercareerworks org), with most metrics continuing to grow - see sidebar
Collaborated with partners at the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, Securus, Workbay, and Macon Transitional to develop strategies for using the platform to expand career exploration, skills training, and job search opportunities for justice involved individuals
Completed spring season of Future Workforce Friday featuring YKK AP and Irving Tissue
Engaged with JobsEQ platform to begin analyzing and providing real-time job market data.
PILLAR II - ATTRACT & RETAIN TALENT
As part of Choose Macon, the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce will create and implement a talent attraction plan that builds on the region’s cultural and business narrative.
Hosted the Leadership Macon class days focused on housing, tourism, and military affairs with a tour of Robins Air Force Base planned in partnership with Alumni Advisors
Engaged with MakeMyMove to recruit $1M in new household income by offering incentive packages for new movers to Macon
Planned and hosted New Medical Resident Welcome event
Organized Junes’s "Mingle with Singles" MAC event at a Macon Bacon game with over 40 in attendance
Planned and hosted first Supplier Diversity Certification Academy class in partnership with Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council
Launched summer interstate billboard marketing campaign
Q2 2025
PILLAR III - AT INVESTORREPORT
Startup Macon hired an Entrepreneur Catalyst, Andrew Eck, who connects entrepreneurs to the resources they need to be successful.
Pillar III of the Forward Macon campaign has concluded This effort was led by Startup-Macon, an entrepreneur-led network dedicated to connecting Central Georgia entrepreneurs. Through free monthly meetups, cross-promotion of Entrepreneur Support Organization (ESO) programming, and coordinated referrals to partners, Startup-Macon continues to play a key role in advancing this pillar’s goals of fostering collaboration, removing barriers to entrepreneurship, and creating a more supportive environment for startups in Macon.
INVESTORREPORT Q2 2025
PILLAR IV - REVITALIZE NEIGHBORHOODS
The Community Engagement Project Manager, Dr Sundra Woodford, managed by United Way of Central Georgia, serves as a neighborhood catalyst implementing a systemic, comprehensive revitalization plan for the Pleasant Hill neighborhood
Community Schools United (CSU), through its AcSELerate program, which is a parent support and engagement intervention based out of LH Williams Elementary School, coordinated a Pleasant Hill neighborhood cleanup with parents, students, and volunteers in April. Dozens of pounds of trash were collected
During Milestones testing, CSU partnered with Pleasant Hill organizations to host Reading by Example on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 From 7:00–7:30 PM, all household members were encouraged to read. The Middle Georgia Regional Library set up its mobile unit at LH Williams for families to check out high-interest, easyreading books in advance The event aimed to promote reading habits and strengthen community connections around literacy.
CSU received the Environmental Award from Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful at its annual awards ceremony This award recognized CSU for its commitment and dedication with the Walking School Bus’s collaborative safety audits, youth environmental stewardship education and neighborhood cleanups.
This summer, United Way’s Community Schools United partnered with the 21st Century Summer Camp at Appling Middle to bring hands-on learning to nearly 50 students from LH Williams and Burdell-Hunt Designed to keep students engaged, the camp blended academics, life skills, and enrichment activities that support whole-child development
Thanks to local partners, students explored:
Social-emotional wellness with Project AWARE
Financial literacy with Wealth ASAP
Environmental justice with Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful
Entrepreneurship with Spark Macon Literacy with guest authors and advocates
FINANCES AT A GLANCE
TOTAL CAMPAIGN REVENUES EXPENSES
PILLAR I
$3,390,702
$1,271,605 PILLAR II
$837,089 PILLAR III $145,000
CAMPAIGN EXPENSES & OVERHEAD $523,824
TOTAL CAMPAIGN EXPENSES
$2,777,518
Forward Macon focuses on economic development, community engagement, and enhancing the quality of life in the Macon area by addressing local challenges, supporting job creation and promoting sustainable growth, ultimately leading to a stronger and more vibrant community.
Dear Forward Macon Stakeholder,
We present to you a progress update that marks the work being accomplished thanks to Forward Macon funding.
As you will see from the report, the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce continues to support workforce development and talent attraction and retention through several community-based initiatives, including the Greater Career Works digital platform and the Choose Macon marketing strategy. The Chamber continues to partner with the Bibb County School District and local industries to make the most of these opportunities for businesses to meet their talent and workforce needs
In addition to the work of the Chamber, Spark Macon is supporting entrepreneurship efforts, and the United Way of Central Georgia houses the neighborhood initiatives focused on Pleasant Hill
Previous reports of Forward Macon accomplishments can be found here
In addition to the status updates you’ll find from the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce in this report, you will also see a snapshot of our current Forward Macon financials, as part of our fiveyear capital campaign.
Thank you for your support as we work collaboratively to move Macon forward
Sincerely,
Jessica Walden
President & CEO, Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce
Forward Macon, Inc., Director
Robbo Hatcher H2Capital
Forward Macon, Board Chair