Who We Are
In 1996, The Peyton Anderson Foundation enabled a group of visionary corporate and civic leaders to establish a non-profit, public-private partnership called NewTown Macon. The goal was to restore and re-establish downtown Macon as a thriving center of economic, cultural, and social activity. For 25 years, NewTown has been providing Macon with leadership, planning, and support toward this goal. The community has responded by investing over $350 million to improve downtown.
Today, NewTown Macon continues to make strategic investments that improve downtown. Since 2016, NewTown Macon has purchased and rehabilitated 7 buildings, adding 69 lofts and 12 storefronts to the downtown market. Additionally, NewTown Macon launched the Business Improvement District, NewTown Loans, Middle Georgia's first CDFI designated by the IRS Treasury, and absorbed the city of Macon's Main Street program. NewTown's comprehensive approach to downtown development has resulted in 78% storefront occupancy, 86% loft occupancy, and 900,000+ annual event attendance.
Core Values
VISION
NewTown will continue to create the vision and lead the transformation of downtown.
Relationships
NewTown will identify and cultivate relationships in the private, public, and quasi-sectors to leverage additional participation in efforts to continue the transformation of downtown.
ADVOCACY
NewTown seeks to sustain and increase its credibility to serve as the principal advocate for the transformation of downtown.
FOCUS
Revitalizing our downtown improves the quality of life for all Maconites. NewTown Macon reinvigorates downtown by focusing on increasing residents, growing jobs, and creating a sense of place.
Increasing Residents
Residential development in downtown Macon is critical to the city's success in attracting jobs, growing the economy, and creating a vibrant community. NewTown must help meet the challenge of securing financing in the present economic climate for mixed-use projects.
Initiatives Include:
Doubling loft housing to over 1,000 market-rate units
Hosting the Developers' Academy annually to create a pipeline of real estate developers for downtown projects
Creating a CDFI to grow NewTown Macon's lending activity and to make successful investments that revitalize Central Georgia by serving developers and entrepreneurs who have traditionally been denied access to financing and related resources
Acquiring and rehabilitating key downtown properties as mixed-use developments
Copying, printing and scanning (during normal office hours)
Networking with other members
Growing Jobs
NewTown Macon will work to achieve 80% storefront occupancy within NewTown's three target blocks by 2022. These blocks include the 400 and 500 blocks of Cherry St. and the 500 Block of Poplar.
Initiatives Include:
Doubling loft housing to over 1,000 market-rate units
Hosting the Developers' Academy annually to create a pipeline of real estate developers for downtown projects
Creating a CDFI to grow NewTown Macon's lending activity and to make successful investments that revitalize Central Georgia by serving developers and entrepreneurs who have traditionally been denied access to financing and related resources
Acquiring and rehabilitating key downtown properties as mixed-use developments
Copying, printing and scanning (during normal office hours)
Networking with other members
Creating a Sense of Place
- Downtown Macon has much to offer - historic architecture, a rich musical heritage, quality higher education opportunities, and a distinctive mix of dining and entertainment venues. NewTown will continue raising our city's visibility while providing unique cultural and recreational opportunities.
- Initiatives include:
- Maintaining and expanding viable connections along the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail
- Operating the Business Improvement District
- Managing First Friday
- Creating and implementing programming for families
- Promoting downtown businesses and events
Diversity & Inclusion
NewTown Macon is committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment in downtown Macon that encourages a greater diversity of business owners and patrons.
NewTown will work to create this environment by serving developers and entrepreneurs who have traditionally been denied access to financing and related resources and offering programming that appeals to all citizens of Macon-Bibb County.