Raising The Bar
2016 Annual Report
Macon Economic Development Commission
Welcome from the Chair Starr H. Purdue Hutchings Funeral Home
The economic development team, led by Pat Topping had an outstanding 2016. They continued to work with economic development partners across Middle Georgia, the state and around the world promoting and marketing Macon-Bibb as the best place for business. In 2016, MEDC worked with seven new companies and more than a dozen existing businesses that announced plans to create over 700 new jobs. Yulista, Guard Buildings and FedEx Ground were among the companies that decided that Macon-Bibb was the best place for their businesses. MEDC’s funding partners, the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce, the Macon Water Authority and the Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority played a vital role in the sustained growth of our community. MEDC has the energy and resourcefulness to fuel continued growth for Middle Georgia. We see a 2017 full of rewarding opportunities for existing businesses to grow and expand in Macon-Bibb.
Starr H. Purdue Hutchings Funeral Home
Macon Economic Development Commission MEDC has been responsible for recruiting new industries to Macon as well as assisting existing companies with expansion projects serving as the ‘single point of contact’ between business and industries in Macon-Bibb County, site location consultants project managers, brokers and developers.
Recruitment Through targeted recruitment efforts, MEDC opened 46 projects and assisted seven new companies in locating in Macon-Bibb County. Although the majority of the projects opened were manufacturing companies, many were in the aerospace industry and food processing.
Retention Through Industrial Park meetings and visits to over 100 companies, MEDC reaches out to local companies large and small. Linking and leveraging strategic resources in MaconBibb County to make expansion and growth possible and doing business profitable.
Workforce MEDC works with education partners to ensure the pipeline of talent is ready to meet the needs of our growing business community. MEDC has taken the lead on matching business and industry with our career academy, colleges and universities to grow apprenticeship and internship programs. MEDC also works to retain and attract talent to Macon-Bibb County.
MEDC Staff (Pictured left to right) Mike Dyer President Ashley Miller Manager of Business & Industry Marty Koplin Executive Assistant Pat Topping, CEcD Senior Vice President
2016 MEDC Board MEDC’s Sr. Vice President, Pat Topping’s impact on the economic development profession was recognized by the Southern Economic Development Council when they named him to their prestigious group of Honorary Life Members.
Mr. Gary Bechtel Guaranty Financial, Inc.
Mr. Frank Patterson Macon Water Authority Board
Mr. Rob Betzel Infinity Network Solutions
Mrs. Starr Purdue, Chair Hutchings Funeral Home
Mr. Leonard Bevill Macon Occupational Medicine, LLC
Mr. Robert Reichert Mayor, Macon-Bibb County
Ms. Dorothy Black Macon Water Authority Board
Dr. Scott Schultz Mercer University School of Engineering
Mr. Jason Delves Beasley Flooring Products, Inc.
Mr. Scott Seigel BB&T
Mr. Eugene Dunwody, Sr. Dunwody/Beeland Architects, Inc.
Mr. Dan Slagle Cox Communications
Mr. Doug Faour Middle Georgia Regional Airport
Mrs. Monica Smith Macon-Bibb County CVB
Mr. Grant Greenwood James-Bates-Brannan-Groover
Mr. Spencer Strickland State Bank & Trust
Mr. George Greer Spivey, Pope, Green & Greer, LLC
Mr. Cliffard Whitby Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority
Mrs. Lynn Murphey Cox Communications
MEDC Funding Partners Bibb County Board of Education The Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce Macon-Bibb County Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority Macon Water Authority
2016 Developers’ Day Each year, project managers from across the state are invited for a two-day, information packed tour of Macon-Bibb County. In 2016 we partnered with the Macon Water Authority and Georgia Power to give our guests an opportunity to learn about the many reasons we think this is the best place for business. 4
“The Macon Water Authority is proud to partner with the MEDC to host Developers Day. This event allows us the opportunity to thoroughly educate some of the site selection consultants and project managers in the State on the benefits of locating their business in Macon-Bibb and of the Macon Water Authority’s ability to meet their water and wastewater needs.” -Tony Rojas, Executive Director, Macon Water Authority
Ron Shipman, Georgia Power’s Central Region Vice President, and Bibb County School Superintendent, Dr. Curtis Jones, hear presentations about the workforce of the future.
2016 Workforce Summit In August, MEDC and the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce brought over 200 members of the business community, economic development, education and workforce professionals together for a conference to provide information and resources for businesses of all sizes. The agenda featured a variety of topics related to workforce including the following:
Internship and apprenticeship programs Solutions for an aging workforce Ideas on hiring and retaining millennials Veterans returning to the workforce Talent identification assistance
Highlighted Points:
Culture Skills
Creative Pipeline
Partnership
2016 by the numbers
7
328
$45.5
New Companies Located
New Jobs
Million Capital Invested By New Companies
13
579
$44.7
Existing Companies Expanded
Jobs With Existing Companies
Million Capital Invested By Existing Companies
New Companies Located in 2016
In 2016 MEDC opened 46 projects and hosted 57 prospect visits resulting in seven companies that chose to locate in Macon-Bibb.
In January 2016, Yulista Aviation, Inc, a subsidiary of the Canadian company, Yulista Holding, announced they will provide aviation prototyping, engineering and manufacturing support in a 21,000 square foot hanger located at the Middle Georgia Regional Airport. With offices in Byron and Warner Robins, Yulista has been supporting the Warner Robins Air Force community since 2011. In its new hangar, Yulista will have the capability to meet more customer requirements, satisfy national security needs while increasing opportunities to grow its Middle Georgia workforce. Yulista Aviation currently has approximately 40 employees in Warner Robins and plans to add 50 new jobs at their new facility.
Guard-Buildings, LLC announced plans to open a 23,000 square foot facility to manufacture industrial modular shelters. The Florida based company plans to initially hire 25 employees and invest $2,000,000.
“We are really excited to get production started in Macon. Macon-Bibb has worked well with us and has an enthusiastic workforce,” said Guard-Buildings’ President, John Shults.
Piedmont Brewery & Kitchen In addition to their handcrafted beer, Piedmont Brewery and Kitchen will offer honest food and good times in their family-friendly arcade area located in the basement of their 7,800 sq. ft. building. Handcrafted beer choices will consist of a standard menu of 4 regulars with additional room for special brews, experiments, and surprises. Having poured $885,000 in construction and equipment into their Third Street location, Piedmont will bring 15 – 20 new jobs into downtown.
Brewpubs
Ocmulgee Brewpub Celebrating the history and heritage of Macon, Ocmulgee Brewpub plans to serve craft beers and gourmet burgers in their renovated 12,000 sq. ft. building on Second Street. Approximately $350,000 in total building improvements went into their project not including equipment, cooler, etc. Eight full time and 22 part-time employees now enjoy the creative atmosphere that Ocmulgee Brewpub brings to downtown Macon.
We’ve heard it said that there’s something in the water here in Macon-Bibb County. It must be true because in 2016 two craft breweries announced plans to open in downtown Macon.
Existing Company Expansions
Through accreditation from ACGME (Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education) and a new partnership with Mercer University’s School of Medicine, Coliseum Medical Centers plan to provide new internal medicine and psychiatry residency and fellowship opportunities to medical school graduates. These programs will bring 100 new residency jobs to Coliseum.
“The development of quality residency and fellowship programs is paramount to ensuring that we, as a nation, have the capacity to care for our communities for decades to come." -Dr. John Lucas, Vice President for Graduate Medical Education, HCA South Atlantic Division
“HAECO believes that involvement in the community is critical to our success. The Chamber of Commerce and MEDC have been great supporters of HAECO and we are grateful that through them we have been able to reach out to the community to become more involved.” - Kip Blakely, Vice President of Customer and Government Relations, HAECO Americas
Industry of the Year l HAECO
Each year the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce and MEDC recognize leading businesses, industries and small businesses in Macon through an awards ceremony. In 2016, awards in each category were presented at a press conference at each winner’s location so that their staff and guests could be included in the celebration.
Business of the Year l OrthoGeorgia
Small Business of the Year Macon Occupational Medicine
Industrial Park Association Meetings
Industrial Park Association Meetings provide opportunities that help neighboring companies come together for B2B networking. Lunch meetings are hosted throughout the year for companies located in each of Macon-Bibb’s industrial parks. In 2016 meetings were held at Pactiv, Tyson Foods, ASP and Freudenberg Performance Materials.
Growth Fertile economic development enables companies like GEICO and Navicent Health to grow.
Navicent Health Navicent Health is a nonprofit corporation whose primary purpose is to coordinate affiliated healthcare entities in their mission of providing a comprehensive continuum of high quality, reasonably priced healthcare services to the region. Navicent Health has 830 beds for medical, surgical, rehabilitation and hospice purposes. The health system includes The Medical Center, Navicent Health, a nationally recognized tertiary teaching hospital, the state’s only nationally verified Level I Trauma Center. Other facilities under the Navicent Health banner include Children’s Hospital, Medical Center of Peach County, Rehabilitation Hospital, Pine Pointe, Carlyle Place -continuing care retirement community and Navicent Health Foundation, as well as diagnostic and home care services. According to an annual study released by the Georgia Hospital Association, Navicent Health hospitals generate an average of $1.5 billion in revenue for local and state economies while providing approximately $70 million in uncompensated care and sustaining approximately 12,000 full-time jobs statewide.
GEICO “For over 40 years, GEICO has been growing and adding jobs in Macon, GA and 2016 was no different. Insurance operations for 15 states are headquartered in Macon, as are national operations for Emergency Road Service. Providing 5,500 jobs with career advancement potential, we are proud to play an important part in the economic growth and stability of the region. In addition to economic impact, our associates are also critical members of the volunteer force in the community and continue to set the standard as the leading contributor to United Way of Central Georgia for over 10 years. Many of our associates are also supporting local colleges by pursuing continued education through our Tuition Reimbursement program . Whether through economic impact, charitable giving or community involvement, GEICO remains committed to Macon and Middle Georgia.” Rhett Rayburn – GEICO Regional Vice President (Southeast)
MEDC in 2017 A new era and new challenges demand a new plan. There is no shortage of good ideas, excellent analysis, positive attitudes and willingness to act. Looking ahead for this year, a couple of key components of our strategic plan include: - Supporting Macon's existing businesses and industries as they continue to grow and expand. - Helping to build a strong workforce equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to support our businesses of today and tomorrow. - Attracting new talent to Middle Georgia while keeping the outstanding workers we already have here.
Business and community leaders continue to work together on a shared vision, to make Macon-Bibb County the best place to do business. - Mike Dyer, President
305 Coliseum Dr. Macon, GA 31217 (478) 621-2000 MaconWorks.com
Macon Economic Development Commission