A new Costco is coming to Macon-Bibb County thanks to the partnership of the consolidated government, Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority (MBCIA), and the Bibb County School District (BCSD). On Tuesday, October 20, the Macon-Bibb Commission approved a resolution requesting the Industrial Authority (MBCIA) issue revenue bonds up to $30 million primarily to assist with preparing the site and roads in the area for development.
“It’s a great day in Macon-Bibb County when we get to bring a new retail option long asked for – and to do it in a way that will help roll back property taxes, bring more jobs, and improve the entire area – all at no additional cost to the people who live here,” says Mayor Miller. “I want to thank the team making this happen because it’s a project that will be of benefit to the entire community.”
The new Costco will be at New Forsyth Road and Wesleyan Drive and will include its warehouse club store and gas pumps. As part of the development there will be significant road, traffic, and other infrastructure improvements, including intersection improvements and signalizations, turn lanes, deceleration lanes, related traffic improvements on New Forsyth Road, Bass Road, Wesleyan Drive, and Riverside Drive, and more. Costco has also guaranteed – at minimum –175 full-time jobs, with the potential total number of jobs reaching near 300.
Costco will serve as a significant draw for people from around the region, thus increasing sales tax collections. With additional sales tax revenue coming in, there will be more money available to roll back property taxes and fund road improvements around the county, improve educational facilities, and more.
“Macon-Bibb is already a draw for visitors from around the region and state, as we can tell from the current number of people visiting us for shopping, food, tourism, dining, and so much more,” says Mayor Lester Miller. “Our location in Middle Georgia and along major highways and the interstate system make us the perfect destination for a new Costco, one where people can easily get to without dealing with the traffic north of us.”
The bonds will be repaid using Costco’s Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) and sales tax revenue generated by the store, meaning it will not use existing property tax revenue and will improve the flow of traffic in the entire area. In the previous two weeks, the MBCIA and District approved their parts in their intergovernmental agreement. Funding for this project is not coming from the existing general fund budgets of the consolidated government, School District, nor Industrial Authority.