Each year, NewTown recognizes businesses, organizations, and individuals who have demonstrated exceptional passion and commitment to the revitalization of Downtown Macon. The awards are given in one of eleven categories: The R. Kirby Godsey Leadership, Juanita T. Jordan Community Service, Growing Jobs, Increasing Residents, Creating a Sense of Place, 360 Degrees, Special Recognition, Emerging Partner, Emerging Leader, Downtown Ambassador, and Spirit of Cooperation. Awards may or may not be given in every category. This year, there were seven recipients. 

NewTown Macon’s Partners in Progress Award for Growing Jobs recognizes an individual, business or organization strengthening the quantity and quality of jobs in the downtown area. The honoree may develop a business that employs Middle Georgians, finance job growth, or promote downtown businesses.

The 2014 Partners in Progress Award for Growing Jobs goes to Macon Beer Company. Macon Beer Company is a local craft brewery that focuses on sustainability, innovation, philanthropy, and creating a strong connection to its employees and community. Co-owners and long-time friends Jeremy Knowles and Cory Smith who are the “brains behind the brew” founded the Macon Beer Company in 2012. Since its inception, Macon Beer Company has worked to provide high quality craft beers beyond industry standards while increasing the quantity and quality of jobs, and promoting downtown Macon. 

Earlier this spring, the company expanded their equipment to increase their distribution with the goal of producing enough beer to reach other regions within Georgia such as Atlanta, Augusta, and Columbus. By increasing its production and distribution area, Macon Beer Company will not only spread the word on how great of a city Macon is, but will also bring revenue back to the city.

Partner in Progress for Increasing Residents honors a business, organization or individual that is increasing residents in our downtown. The recipient of this award may directly increase residents by renovating or create buildings that house lofts, apartments or condominiums. Alternatively, the nominee could have a less tangible effect by financing residential development or promoting downtown living. This year’s honoree is Damaste Real Estate. 

Since 1996, Damaste Real Estate has contributed to the economic impact of Downtown Macon by investing millions of dollars in many different projects throughout downtown. Their investment has been consistent over the past two decades, and shows the Danese’s continued commitment to and belief in Downtown Macon. Over the years, Damaste Real Estate redeveloped properties such as the Newberry Building, The Blacksmith Shop, the Myers Building, and the Standard Rhodes Building. With each commercial, residential, and retail space that the company has rehabilitated in downtown, Damaste Real Estate has held on to the belief that you should not just make downtown new again, but make it better. 

Partners in Progress Award for Creating a Sense of Place encapsulates a wider variety of work. This year the committee elected to recognize two winners that have gone over and beyond to strengthen the community culture of downtown. The winner may established a popular event; improved the aesthetics of downtown; created a business that attracts people to downtown; protected or preserved an endanger building or property; strengthened the community; or enhanced public space. 

This year’s first recipient for this award is Jean Bragg. Prior to moving back to Macon, Jean lived in New Orleans for forty years where she owned and operated a successful art and antique gallery in Downtown New Orleans. Since her return, Jean Bragg has done her part in the effort to revitalize Downtown Macon and aiding in making downtown THE place to live and to work.
In 2013, Jean purchased three of the most dilapidated buildings and empty storefronts on Cherry Street and renovated them. Currently two of the three storefronts are occupied; one is Ms. Bragg’s art and antique gallery, Travis Jean, and the other is the new home of Doughboy Pizza. Jean believes that success breeds more businesses and hopes that Travis Jean will be the catalyst to cause other retail businesses to move downtown.

Our second honoree for this award that supports “Creating a sense of Place” goes to
The League of Creative Interventionists. This is a global organization with a local chapter in Macon. The League is a group of active citizens who work to make their city a better place; the interventionists focus on positivity and progress; the group stays approachable so a community network may form. Their goal is to bring people together to realize each person is more similar than different. They build community and create a sense of place through creativity, each month carrying out an intervention in a public space to connect people to the community and break down social barriers. The Macon chapter has held community meet-ups and potlucks; they have collected and shared personal stories, created public art; and even hosted pop-up karaoke and a kickball game as an intervention, all taking place in downtown Macon. 

The 360-Degrees Partners in Progress Award honors an individual, business or organization improving all aspects of downtown. The 360-degree award winner exhibits a commitment to all three of NewTown’s focuses: increasing residents, growing jobs and creating a sense of place.

The 2014 360-Degree Award goes to Moonhanger Group owned by Wes Griffith and Chad Evans. Moonhanger Group is the parent company of the Rookery, Dovetail and H&H restaurants, the Cox Capital Theatre, Moonhanger Catering and Events, and the Armory Ballroom. Most recently, the Moonhanger Group made headlines when they decided to take over the H&H Restaurant preserving the soul of the restaurant while bringing new ideas to the business to ensure it survives and thrives in the future. The Moonhanger Group not only preserved H&H’s unique appearance, but also an important part of Macon’s artistic and cultural heritage. From burgers at the Rookery, locally crafted, southern inspired cuisine at the Dovetail, or even a concert at the Cox Capitol Theatre; the Moonhanger Group has provided a high standard of food, events, and service to the City of Macon.

NewTown also awards individuals that are passionate about downtown and deeply share that passion with their family, friends, and peers. The nominee may encourage the community to visit, live, shop or recreate downtown. The best description for our individual award winners is that they are downtown’s biggest cheerleaders. 

This year, NewTown would like to recognize Steve and Laura Bell as our 2014 Partners in Progress Award for Downtown Ambassadors. For years they have been encouraging the community to visit, live, shop, and recreate downtown. Steve and Laura Bell have used social media and other outlets to promote all things downtown whether it is a business or event. Steve and Laura also advocated for the creation of a downtown grocery store for two years before deciding to take on the task on their own. The couple opened Ocmulgee Traders last month! Through social media, the couple has gained support and they are building a community in downtown Macon that goes beyond the walls of Ocmulgee Traders. 

The R. Kirby Godsey Leadership Award honors an individual whose accomplishments and professional contributions to downtown’s revitalization have been outstanding and innovative. This individual inspires Macon citizens and organizations to improve Macon downtown and the community’s quality of life.

This year NewTown Macon recognizes Thomas J. Wicker, Region Vice President for Georgia Power for his commitment to enhancing and advancing Georgia Power’s electrical system in the downtown area. With the construction on Second Street, Georgia Power made the decision to simultaneously upgrade and improve its electrical system in an effort to meet the growth taking place in Downtown Macon. Thomas Wicker stated that,“this investment is just one example of our commitment to meeting our customers’ needs by delivering clean, safe, reliable, and affordable energy.” Hundreds of new lofts would be useless without electricity. With its investments, Georgia Power is showing a vote of confidence in downtown’s future and making sure infrastructure isn’t an impediment to economic development.