On Thursday, March 1, the Atlanta Business Chronicle announced the Macon Bibb-County Industrial Authority as the winner of their Best in Real Estate Award for the Industrial Deal of the Year, 2017. This award recognizes the immense work of Industrial Authority in bringing Amazon.com to Macon-Bibb County. The deal was originally announced in October 2017 as a $90 million investment with Amazon leasing a 1-million-square-foot fulfillment center, which will create over 500 full-time jobs.

“The Amazon deal, along with our other successes, is an example of what can happen when partners work together strategically. We would like to thank the Macon-Bibb County Commissioners, Bibb County Board of Education, and the Macon Water Authority for making this happen.” said MBCIA Chairman of the Board Robert Fountain. Speaking on behalf of the Macon Water Authority, Chairman Samuel F. Hart Sr. said, “It is gratifying to have the successes of our partnership with the Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority be acknowledged by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. The Authority is pleased to know that it’s investment in economic development continues to pay dividends for the community by creating more jobs for our citizens, growing the tax base, and showing that our success is being recognized across the State.”

The Mayor’s Office has also played an instrumental role in positioning Macon-Bibb County as a destination for industry. “A lot of people and organizations worked to make this a reality, including the people that keep our streets clean, put on festivals, and open restaurants and stores” said Mayor Robert Reichert. “Macon-Bibb is recognized as a hub for industry, business, culture, and recreation, and that is what helped us have a banner year in attracting Amazon.com and other industries last year.”

The deal bringing Amazon.com to Macon capped a record-breaking year for the Industrial Authority, with over 1,000 jobs created and nearly $700 million invested in Macon-Bibb County by Star Snacks, Tyson Foods, Irving Consumer Products, and Graphic Packaging International. We believe the future for the region is bright, and we’re excited to see these deals begin to take shape in 2018.