The Community Foundation of Central Georgia today announced the launch of the Downtown Challenge, a new, three-year program that will fund community-driven ideas to transform downtown Macon, the city’s urban core. The challenge is offering $3 million to fund the community’s best ideas for downtown Macon.   

The challenge, which will be managed by the Community Foundation of Central Georgia, was made possible by the Peyton Anderson Foundation and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; each provided $1.5 million in support.    

The program will fund 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 will fund the best ideas – small and large – from individuals and organizations who will lead the development and implementation of their projects.   

The challenge was inspired by the Macon Action Plan, a five-year strategic plan designed to improve Macon’s urban core, supported by the Peyton Anderson Foundation and Knight Foundation. Successful projects will respond to four community needs and opportunities detailed in the plan:   

Economic Development – Diversify the local economy to ensure that downtown is competitive and attractive for new business, support Macon’s institutions as economic anchors for growth, send a clear message that Macon is open for business, and support startups and attract job-creating businesses.
 
Experience – Program downtown’s social life, build the local audience, keep the urban core clean and safe, and transform Macon’s sidewalks and public spaces as the center stage for community life.  
Living – Encourage more households to locate downtown, update regulations and codes to encourage investment, and strengthen surrounding neighborhoods to offer the best of both worlds (downtown and Intown living).

Connectivity – Cultivate and improve multimodal transportation options, enhance safety and manage downtown’s parking system in a comprehensive manner.  

“We have learned that positive change continues to be driven by the community’s best ideas,” said Kathryn Dennis, president of the Community Foundation of Central Georgia.

“The Peyton Anderson Foundation is pleased to partner with Knight Foundation on this exciting next step that accelerates the momentum of downtown Macon, and creates a forum for engaging the entire community in shaping our future,” said Karen Lambert, president of the Peyton Anderson Foundation. “The Downtown Challenge recognizes and builds upon the hard work, vision and passion of our partners, the Community Foundation, the Urban Development Authority and NewTown Macon.”

“The challenge is an open call for ideas from all of Macon’s diverse residents. It offers them a chance to shape the city’s future and help create a thriving Macon that will encourage talented people to live and stay in the city, while contributing to its growth and development,” said Beverly Blake, Knight Foundation program director for Macon.  
Businesses, nonprofit organizations, government entities and individuals may apply to the challenge. Individual applicants are encouraged to partner with a sponsoring organization. The first deadline to apply is March 15, 2016 at noon. For more information on how to apply, please visit downtownchallengemacon.org. A series of public information sessions offering tips on applying to the Downtown Challenge will be announced in the coming weeks.

“Our office is looking forward to working with the community as great ideas are put into action through the Downtown Challenge,” said Dennis. “We proudly challenge residents, businesses and organizations to think beyond downtown Macon’s potential and transform it to our city’s reality.”