The Community Foundation of Central Georgia today announced 21 new projects to be funded by the Downtown Challenge, now in its fourth round of awarding grants that put game-changing ideas into action for Downtown Macon. The three-year, $3 million grant initiative launched in January 2016 and has now awarded over $1.8 million in funding.

Administered by the Community Foundation of Central Georgia, the Downtown Challenge is made possible by the Peyton Anderson Foundation and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; each provided $1.5 million in support.

Applications are reviewed and scored according to the funding priorities of the Macon Action Plan, a five-year strategic plan designed to improve Macon’s urban core and respond to four community needs and opportunities detailed in the plan: economic development, experience, living, and connectivity. “The Downtown Challenge once again shows that residents are invested in making downtown all that it can be. For four cycles now, we have seen individuals, nonprofits, and government entities submit almost 250 ideas to enhance the urban core,” said Kathryn Dennis, president of the Community Foundation of Central Georgia. “The latest round of grants will fund innovative ideas that don’t just provide an experience but enhance and strengthen our community, in addition to making an economic impact.”

The latest round of Downtown Challenge funding was announced and celebrated with a news conference and reception today on Poplar Street under the Poplar Street Lights, a previous Downtown Challenge grant lead by Bryan Nichols. Many other previous and new grant recipients were on hand to celebrate these projects.

The fourth round of Downtown Challenge projects supporting the “Economic Development” funding priority are:

1. Protégé Apprenticeships, $10,000: The Mentors Project will pair protégés with downtown businesses to aid the protégé with job experience and the business with an additional employee. The idea meets a need in 1.1 (c) - Build Better Support for economic anchors by expanding commercial businesses.

2. Macon Exchange: A Downtown Pop-up and Retail Incubator, $15,000: NewTown Macon will create a training program to help young businesses refine their business models and improve their likelihood for success and then use a pop up shop to test the market with minimal risk. The idea meets a need in 1.2 (a) - Strengthen competition and re-establish natural churn in the local market by increasing number and diversity of businesses.

3. Public Art as Economic Development, $35,000: Main Street Macon will facilitate bringing more public art to downtown and document the process by which public art is approved. The idea meets a need in 1.2 (b) - Initiate Downtown-specific business attraction efforts.

4. Bring Back the Mac Party, $10,000: Main Street Macon will bring students from Mercer University, Wesleyan College, Middle Georgia State University, and Central Georgia Technical College to Downtown Macon to engage with local businesses and attractions in the urban core, building their desire to stay here after graduation. The idea meets a need in 1.2 (d) - Initiate talent attraction efforts to build local economy.

5. Be a Regular, $15,000: Main Street Macon will launch a marketing campaign that convinces every community member to “be a regular” in Downtown Macon by promoting the urban core as a regional hub for retail, dining and entertainment. The idea meets a need in 1.2 (e) - Customer attraction.

6. Costarters Scholarships and Resource Materials, $5,000: The Mercer University Center for Innovation will use the Costarters curriculum to equip aspiring entrepreneurs with the insights, relationships, and tolls needed to turn businesses ideas into action. The idea meets a need in 1.3 (a) - Embrace and support start-up culture.

The fourth round of projects supporting the “Experience” funding priority are:

7. Pop-Up Stem Zone and Raceway, $3.000: The Magnolia Soapbox Derby will integrate a STEM Zone to Soapbox Saturday to engage 4th-8th graders using a Hot Wheels inspired curriculum. This idea meets a need in 2.3 (a) - Maintain support for existing events and add new events.

8. Rhythm N Jazz on the Dock, $15,500: The Rhythm N Jazz Foundation will make enhance Gateway Park and continue their free concerts for the community. This idea meets a need in 2.2 (b) - Improve and expand open spaces in the urban core to create a central gathering space.

9. Art on a Cart, $1,900: The 567 Center for Renewal will pop-up a mobile art-making cart in various medians, alleys, and plazas with free art activities guided by local artists. This idea meets a need in 2.2 (a) - Improve use of underutilized spaces including alleys, medians, and vacant storefronts.

10. Lower Poplar Park Renovation, $14,000: The Situation Room will partner with Macon-Bibb County Parks and Beautification to transform Poplar Yards between Third Street and MLK Boulevard into an open greenspace for a variety of community uses. This idea meets a need in 2.2 (b) - Improve and expand open spaces in the urban core to create a central gathering space.

11. Free Shakespeare in the Park, $19,000: The Situation Room will host four Free Shakespeare in the Park events in Lower Poplar Park in Spring 2018. This idea meets a need in 2.3 (a) - Maintain support for existing events and add new events.

12. Third Street Park Trail Connection, $100,000: The Macon Bibb Urban Development Authority will bring the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail into downtown by making Third Street more pedestrian and bicycle friendly. This idea meets a need in 2.2 (c) - Integrate the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail as a key downtown amenity.

13. Rose Hill Spring Street Connector, $75,000: Newtown Macon will connect Rose Hill Cemetery to the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail by adding ramps on both sides of the Spring Street Bridge. This idea meets a need in 2.2 (c) - Integrate the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail as a key downtown amenity.

14. Family Faves Weekend Series, $2,000: The Grand Opera House will host a family friendly, educational, live theater series with shows on Saturday mornings and afternoons. This idea meets a need in 2.3 (a) - Maintain support for existing events and add new events.

15. Historic Macon’s Music Registry Tour Brochure and Unveiling, $10,000: Historic Macon Foundation will expand on plaques that can already be found around downtown with information about Macon’s Music History by providing a self-guided tour. This idea meets a need in 2.3 (a) - Maintain support for existing events and add new events.

The fourth round projects supporting the “Living” funding priority is:

16. Main Street Gardens, $70,000: Macon Arts Alliance will transform an unappealing, overgrown street corner into a pedestrian-friendly park new park at the end of Clinton Street. This idea meets a need in 3.3 (c) - Revitalize East Macon's Main Street Neighborhood.

17. Booker T. Washington Center Master Plan, $11,000: Macon-Bibb County will hire a consultant to evaluate viable mixed uses for Booker T. Washington Center and formulate a master plan for the center. This preliminary study will help to determine the feasibility of and level of County investment there. This idea meets a need in 3.3 (d) - Focus investment in Pleasant Hill near neighborhood amenities.

The fourth round of projects supporting the “Connectivity” funding priority are:

18. My City Bikes App, $7,600: Visit Macon will create three bike tours on the My City Bikes App that can be downloaded for free to help bike riders access various local attractions. This idea meets a need in 4.3 (d) - Make it easier to live in the Urban Core without a car.

19. Downtown Macon Sculpture Walk, $30,000: The Downtown Community Association will link Tattnall Square Park to Gateway Plaza by highlighting new and existing art throughout the urban core. This idea meets a need in 4.2 (c) - Develop pedestrian encouragement and education programs.

20. Macon Transit System Route Modernization, $18,000: Macon-Bibb County will convene stakeholders, survey transit users, and explore funding options for technological improvements to increase efficiency of the Macon Transit Authority. This idea meets a need in 4.3 (a) - Improve bus/shuttle connections.

21. Slow Roll Macon Series, $13,000: Bike Walk Macon will bring a slow-paced social bike ride designed to keep a large group safe and give a unique perspective of the community to life with Slow Roll Macon. This idea meets a need in 4.3 (b) - Improve bicycle infrastructure.

There are two more grant cycles for the Downtown Challenge, with the next deadline on March 15, 2018. The grant application is now live to apply. For more information and to apply, visit downtownchallengemacon.org.

The Downtown Challenge funds creative, transformational projects for Macon’s downtown area—bounded by Interstate 75, Emery Highway, Seventh Street and Little Richard Penniman Boulevard.

A broad-based, competitive grant program, the Challenge funds the best ideas – small and large – from individuals, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and government entities who will lead the development and implementation of their projects (individual applicants are encouraged to partner with a sponsoring organization).