Macon industrial authority celebrates 2025 growth

The Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority published its annual report on Nov. 12, noting $4.6 billion in “potential investments” and other steps to improve the county’s attractiveness to economic interests.

The county industrial authority recruits manufacturers, businesses and other commercial entities to bring in jobs and economic growth to Macon. It also negotiates with companies to settle in Macon and invests in quality of life improvements.

Last fiscal year, the industrial authority facilitated a $600 million investment from Irving Tissue. The authority’s fiscal year spans from July 1 through June 30.

A group of Maconites, including members of the industrial authority, went to Japan recently, which helped solidify bonds with YKK — one of the county’s longtime partners, MBCIA Executive Director Stephen Adams said.

“We’re making investments to go see our partners and making sure that even in the event of a volatile market, the relationships are strong and can overcome (volatility),” he said.

The report highlighted awards given to the authority, including one from the Ocmulgee National Preserve and Park Initiative recognizing the MBCIA’s investments in the initiative and other local partners in preparation for the opening of the National Park.

The long-awaited designation could bring in over a million visitors to Bibb County, which means more residents and potentially a larger workforce to entice companies to Macon, Adams said.

Conservation and industrial development can coexist with each other, he added.

“We’ve had a lot of success in the last years and generated revenues that have allowed us to invest in local partners, efforts that are driving quality of life, and obviously the national park effort is a huge one.”

The authority touted $18 million in reinvestment back into county government and the Bibb County Board of Education through its Payment in Lieu of Taxes program, a tax discount offered to companies as incentive to settle in Macon. 

“It’s a way for those companies to own that very specific dollar amount and keep them involved in our community in a way that is both good for them and the community,” Adams said.

The county also saw Nichiha, a manufacturing company based out of the airport industrial park, close one of its plants and lay off dozens of employees.

Adams said it continues to be important to meet the needs of existing industries, for everything from land to education and quality of life.

“If I don’t have that in our inventory … that opportunity will not be available,” he said. “That’s why a lot of successes that we’ve had over the last few years are from products and investments we made decades ago.”