On Wednesday, March 26, about 150 people gathered at the Macon Mall to learn about affordable housing and what goes into creating it. The Macon-Bibb County Affordable Housing Fund and Land Bank Authority hosted the Developers Summit, a pivotal event designed to bring together nonprofit and for-profit agencies dedicated to advancing affordable housing solutions with the latest incentives available in Macon.
“The event was certainly a success with 12 agency experts presenting to nearly 150 participants. It was a lot to pack into one day, but we outlined clear next steps and options for ongoing support,” said Affordable Housing Fund Executive Director Natalie Bouyett. “We are hopeful that this event has generated a better understanding of local resources, and we hope to see an increase in momentum of affordable housing projects for Macon resulting from this Summit.”
The summit featured a lineup of speakers representing key organizations and departments, including Macon-Bibb County, Affordable Housing Fund, Land Bank Authority, Code Enforcement, Georgia Power, Planning & Zoning, HomeFirst, Macon Housing Authority, NewTown, and Economic and Community Development. Attendees will gain valuable insights into innovative strategies and collaborative approaches to addressing housing needs in Macon.
Participants were able to engage with experts, network with peers, and discover new resources that can drive impactful affordable housing projects.
To date, the Affordable Housing Fund has committed $2 million dollars to leverage an additional $16 million to create affordable housing in the Historic Pleasant Hill Neighborhood. It also is using $325,000 to provide a loan for Habitat for Humanity to leverage $490,000 in funds for three single-family homes.
The Affordable Housing Fund was originally created and funded with a $7.5 million investment by Macon-Bibb County from the American Rescue Plan Act to be used as a match for other funding sources to create more affordable housing for people and families. It is part of a larger initiative involving multiple organizations, including NewTown Macon, Historic Macon Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, Knight Foundation, and Peyton Anderson Foundation. All total, nearly $12 million has been invested by Macon-Bibb County to help create affordable housing.