Political Notebook: Macon ‘Contractors Academy’ offering business tips
A new academy aims to help businesses earn contracts with government agencies.
Macon-Bibb County announced a partnership with University of Georgia’s Small Business Development Center and State Bank & Trust Company this week that will include hosting a Contractors Academy beginning in September. The course, which runs until April 2017, offers participants tips on starting and marketing a business, ways to work with government and the “myths and realities” of credit, according to a release.
“We want to improve the capacity of small and disadvantaged businesses to earn contracts with the government,” said James Bumpus, director of the Macon-Bibb County Small Business Affairs office.
Registration is required for the free monthly programs that will be held at The Terminal Station, 200 Cherry St. For a full schedule and to apply for a scholarship, visit www.maconbibb.us/contractorsacademy2016. Applications can be sent to tlawrence@georgiasbdc.org or at UGA/SBDC, 4875 Riverside Drive, Suite 202, Macon, 31201.
School zone removed
Motorists won’t have to slow down on a portion of Dunbar Road any longer.
The Houston County Commission voted Tuesday to remove the school zone speed reduction at Westside Baptist Church. That’s because the church closed its school there at the end of the last school year. The school zone will also be removed from Simmons Road that runs into Dunbar at the church.
The church asked that the school zone signs be removed.
Midstate lawmakers named to film study committee
Two midstate lawmakers will join a state House study committee that will look at ways to ensure minority participation in the state’s growing film and television industry.
State Rep. James Beverly, D-Macon, and state Rep. Patty Bentley, D-Butler, were named to the committee this week.
The state House created the committee in March, partially at the urging of Maynard Jackson III, an executive producer whose firm is working on a documentary about his father, the late Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson Jr. The committee bill also came in the wake of widespread criticism of an all-white list of Oscar nominations.
Sandefur Road to be resurfaced
There was also good news from Tuesday’s Houston County Commission meeting for travelers on Sandefur Road.
The board approved a change order for a contract to resurface some county roads to add a portion of Sandefur Road. The cost is $274,000 and will pay for the widening, resurfacing and restriping of Sandefur Road from Houston Lake Road to Lake Joy Road. The work is expected to be done by Sept. 30.
Staff writers Stanley Dunlap, Maggie Lee and Wayne Crenshaw contributed to this report.
This story was originally published August 19, 2016 at 2:08 PM with the headline "Political Notebook: Macon ‘Contractors Academy’ offering business tips."