We are excited to announce the 2024 Bibb County FLEX Competition on Wednesday, March 13, at 10 a.m. at Emerson on Plum, 543 Plum Street, Macon. For the first time, there are four student-owned companies moving to the final round! The companies are listed in no particular order:

• Remain Real – Jaden Veal, Central High School

• Nadia’s Truth – Nadia Thomas, VIP Academy

• Window Magic – Rick Canosa, Finn Wakefield, and Jaden Adler, Howard High School

• Moon – Malin Milton, Howard High School and Hutchings College and Career Academy

  This is the second year the Bibb County School District and the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce were selected to participate in the Georgia FLEX competition. The goal of the Georgia Foundational Leadership and Entrepreneurship Experience (FLEX) is to create prosperity and revitalize rural entrepreneurial ecosystems by educating students on the rewards, sacrifices, and processes incurred in establishing small businesses. Throughout the yearlong competition process, a combination of educational guidance, incentives, and mentor opportunities inspires students to launch their successful small businesses, eventually leading to a more vibrant, robust local economy.

  The Bibb County FLEX program is being supported by the Griffith Foundation and the Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority.

  Students advanced through each round of the District FLEX Competition after submitting written business proposals, working side-by-side with community mentors, participating in a pop-up shop experience in downtown Macon this month, and another round of presentations. The final round of competition on March 13 will include "Shark Tank" style presentations given before a panel of judges and community members. The winning student-owned business will receive startup funds from the Griffith Family Foundation and advance to the Georgia FLEX Competition for the opportunity to win up to $10,000.