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Tuesday, Nov. 03, 2009

Macon council members want more details about business center before giving full approval

Several Macon City Council members like the idea of establishing a center to help local businesses win local government contracts, but they want more details about how the center would work before ponying up money to establish it.

The center, proposed as a partnership among the city, Bibb County, the Macon Housing Authority and the Macon Water Authority, already has $40,000 apiece in startup from the other three partners, said Sam Henderson, who is carrying the proposal for Mayor Robert Reichert’s administration. It may get $40,000 from the city of Macon, too, but not before more details are available, council members said during Monday’s meeting of the council’s Appropriations Committee.

So instead of agreeing to the funding tonight during its regular meeting, the council is expected to vote on a resolution supporting the concept behind the center. When more details are available, beyond a draft explanation presented to council members and a potential budget marked “for discussion only,” council members indicated they’d consider a more concrete endorsement.

The center is meant to help local businesses, particularly those owned by minorities and women, win local government contracts. Many times small businesses have “a hard time maneuvering” through government paperwork and other requirements, Henderson said.

“I think the concept is great,” Councilwoman Elaine Lucas said.

Other members agreed, though some offered ways to tweak the proposal. Appropriations Chairman Mike Cranford asked Henderson for more information about efforts to increase local participation in other Georgia cities so that Macon can avoid “reinventing the wheel.”

But the support was not unanimous. Councilman James Timley asked why another organization is needed when the city and county already have several authorities, such as the Urban Development Authority and the Industrial Development Authority, focused on local business development.

“I don’t see that (this proposal) has any rationale whatsoever,” Timley said.

To contact writer Travis Fain, call 744-4213.