The Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful Commission received $45,000 from the Community Foundation of Central Georgia’s Downtown Challenge Fund to place new litter and recycling receptacles around downtown. In July, the Solid Waste Department will distribute 21 recycling (50-gallon) containers and 19 litter (35-gallon) containers.
“These recycling containers will encourage recycling along our beautiful Downtown,” says Dr. Pam Carswell, Executive Director of Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful. “Thanks to the guidance of the Macon Action Plan – which let us know what residents, businesses, and visitors wanted Downtown – and support of the Downtown Challenge Fund, we’re better able to help keep our streets clean and be a greener city.”
“Making Downtown an easier place to for residents and visitors to recycle is a major component of urban areas in other cities, and by not providing this service, we were sending the wrong message about what’s important to our community,” says Macon-Bibb County Solid Waste Director Kevin Barkley. “This, in conjunction with our expanding residential curbside recycling program, are showing people that we are becoming more and more environmentally friendly.”
Increasing recycling opportunities, making it easier to keep our streets clean, and creating a sense of place Downtown are part of Macon-Bibb’s Forward Together Strategic Plan. As part of the Quality of Life Focus Area, having a cleaner, greener community is one way in which we can attract new people to live here and make it a better place to live for everyone.
About the Downtown Challenge Fund
The Downtown Challenge Fund is a three-year, $3 million grant program funding community-driven ideas to implement the Macon Action Plan. , also known as the city’s urban core that stretches from the central business district to surrounding neighborhoods.
The Downtown Challenge Fund is administered by the Community Foundation of Central Georgia and was made possible by the Peyton Anderson Foundation and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, each providing $1.5 million in support. The goal is to make Macon a place that can grow with grace, build upon its good bones, dance to its local rhythm, care for its heart, and coordinate and focus for maximum impact.
A broad-based, competitive grant program, the Downtown Challenge funds the best ideas – small and large – from individuals, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and government entities who will lead the development and implementation of their projects. Individual applicants are encouraged to partner with a sponsoring organization.
About The Macon Action Plan
The Macon Action Plan (MAP) is a plan to envision the future for Downtown and surrounding neighborhoods and guide change in coming years. Facilitated by the Macon-Bibb Urban Development Authority, Macon-Bibb County, and their partners, in collaboration with the MAP planning team led by Interface Studio, the plan incorporates thorough research, community feedback, and expert planning.
The final plan was made possible with generous funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and The Peyton Anderson Foundation. In October 2015, Macon-Bibb Urban Development Authority was awarded the 360-Degree Award by NewTown Macon for exhibiting a commitment to all three of NewTown’s focus areas through Macon Action Plan: increasing residents, growing jobs, and creating a sense of place. To view the final plan, visit maconactionplan.com.
