EDITORIAL: Christmas comes early for Macon-Bibb
Christmas came early for two governments in Macon-Bibb County — and not a minute too soon. By way of the Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority, the county was given a check for $138,000. Not a bad Christmas present. While the MBCIA might not be a name that rolls off the tongue of many residents, it is the premier agency charged with attracting industries that bring jobs to the area. And while incentives are used — land, tax abatements and other devices — to lure those businesses to relocate here, the days of handing the keys to the store and trading jobs to the detriment of our school system and county government are over.
There is no free lunch. Even the businesses understand they have to contribute to the health and well-being of the communities where they wish to settle. It only makes sense if they want to locate in an area with a top-notch educational system and a government that can provide essential services.
Over a 10 year period, the consolidated government can expect to receive a total of almost $10.5 million — and that number is sure to increase as more companies make Macon-Bibb County their home — and as more companies expand their footprint here as Boeing recently announced.
On Thursday at the Bibb County school board meeting, the chairman of the MBCIA Cliffard Whitby, presented a surprise $149,000 check to the school system, proceeds from executed project agreements that will increase over time. These funds are projected to exceed $15.5 million over the next decade. This month, the authority paid what it called a "down payment on our children's future" of $23,000 to the principals of Burdell-Hunt Magnet School and Carter Elementary School for the Leader In Me program. Leader In Me is patterned after Stephen Covey's "7 Habits of Highly Effective People." It is a whole school approach that helps prepare students, not only for academics, but for life. There are 2,405 schools in the Leader In Me process all over the world.
If we have a program that is successful, why isn't it being used at all of the schools? Good question. Any transformational program is difficult to replicate system-wide in a single stroke. Teachers must buy in and be trained. The right staff has to be assembled. As time goes on more schools will want to share in the success. This pilot is co-sponsored by the MBCIA, the school system and the Chamber of Commerce.
Adding to the week, Mercer University's announcement of its Innovation Center, that, according to Mercer President Bill Underwood, "will create 21st century jobs for Middle Georgia." With an eye toward the future, one of the features of the center will be a Young Entrepreneurs Academy for middle and high school students, the first of its kind in the state.
The center was inspired by the Atlanta Technology Village in Buckhead. Its founder, entrepreneur David Cummings, a recent Executive Forum speaker, said the majority of the jobs over the next 10 years do not exist today. The ATV has more than 200 startups and 900 entrepreneurs in residence, according to a Mercer media release.
The Mercer Center will award up to five annual fellowships and is open to anyone in the world. The center will provide space, business expertise and mentoring coupled with a $2 million venture fund. The Industrial Authority is providing the salary for the executive director and office space at its new downtown location, which it opened Wednesday. Anyone can be a member for as little as $25 a month.
Not a bad week for early Christmas presents.
This story was originally published November 19, 2015 at 9:58 PM with the headline "EDITORIAL: Christmas comes early for Macon-Bibb ."