A meeting with Macon-Bibb County Mayor Robert Reichert was an opportunity for University of Georgia President Jere W. Morehead to learn more about the assistance the university provided Macon-Bibb before, during and after its government consolidation.
 
“As a land- and sea-grant university, part of our mission is to connect the resources of the University of Georgia to communities throughout the state,” Morehead said. “Through our outreach programs, we help revitalize rural downtowns, develop community leadership pipelines, train local elected officials and help governments, like Macon-Bibb County’s, operate more efficiently and effectively. These efforts lead to greater economic vitality for the state as a whole.”
 
Macon and Bibb County officials launched the formal process to consolidate their two governments in 2011, contracting with UGA’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government to work with a transition task force to help merge services and policies, set an initial budget and establish a strategic plan. The consolidated government launched on Jan. 1, 2014. In addition, the Vinson Institute provides ongoing training to elected officials and professional staff.
 
Reichert told Morehead Wednesday that the consolidation has been a success for the county in many ways:
 
- Government spending has been cut by 20 percent, while services to citizens have become more streamlined and efficient, as well as more equitable.

- Industries and businesses are expressing renewed and stronger interest in locating and expanding in Macon-Bibb County.

- Elected officials are speaking with one voice instead of competing, creating a single government strategic plan.

- Partner agencies and organizations can more easily align with government now that there is a singular focus.

- Macon-Bibb County has won state and national awards for its programs, plans, departments and people.

- The community has a renewed sense of optimism toward government.
 
“Macon-Bibb is very thankful for the assistance of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government the past five years as we’ve built a new government,” Reichert said. “Their support, facilitation and expertise have proven invaluable in creating the government our community asked for, and we’re delighted to share our—and their—success story with President Morehead.”
 
In addition to assisting with consolidation, the Vinson Institute launched its Georgia Certified Economic Developer Program in Macon in March. The certificate program offers a series of courses to economic development professionals that provide practical, skills-based training, customized for Georgia communities.
 
Tony Rojas, executive director of the Macon Water Authority, and Sam Hart, its chairman, Dale Walker, county manager, and Julie Moore, assistant county manager for budget and strategic planning, also attended the meeting. The Vinson Institute has also helped the Macon Water Authority with strategic planning.
 
The Institute of Government will continue its work with Macon-Bibb County in 2017 by facilitating a strategic planning retreat for the commission and senior staff. This retreat will help update Macon-Bibb’s award-winning strategic plan and set project priorities for the upcoming Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.
 
In addition to the Vinson Institute, other units of UGA public service and outreach have provided expertise to help strengthen the economic base of Macon-Bibb County and the surrounding region.
 
Over the past three years, the Macon office of the Small Business Development Center has assisted more than 700 small business owners and prospective entrepreneurs in Middle Georgia, helping create more than 100 businesses.
 
Since 2015, the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development has provided training to members of the Middle Georgia Regional Leadership Champions—a program of the Middle Georgia Regional Commission, which includes Macon-Bibb and surrounding counties. Funded by the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment, the program is intended to “foster collaborative efforts to be catalysts for improving economic prosperity, education and quality of life for a thriving Middle Georgia.”
 
The Historic Macon Foundation also has contracted with the Fanning Institute to create and implement a grassroots neighborhood leadership development program. The training will develop stronger community leadership skills in neighborhood leaders so that they can advocate for positive change for residents. The training will begin in early 2017.