Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1538147
PHOTOS BY JESSICA WHITLEY Five U N D E R 40 Macon is booming. Literally. T he year kicked off with a dramatic implosion of the long-vacant Ramada high-rise, sending a clear signal: blight is coming down, and hope is going up. Across Downtown Macon, cranes cut into the skyline on nearly every block, construction fences line the sidewalks, and bright signs warn you – change is going to come. The former Ramada will soon be a new hotel and convention center, just across the way from what will become a cutting-edge Mercer Medical School. A civic plaza is in the works at Rosa Parks Square, while the space that once held Neel's Department Store spins off a major new building bearing the same name. Not excited yet? A new parking deck behind City Hall adds space for us to gather and more opportunities to live in the heart of it all. Whispers of other projects – more hotels, restaurants, co-working spaces, and more – continue to swirl. And just like the buildings breaking ground, a new class of bold young leaders is reshaping the city. They're delivering justice from the courtroom, feeding communities from fresh- picked fields, rumbling down highways in top-of-the-line yellow school buses, sharing stories of meaning and hope from the stage, and cutting checks that make change in the community. For 25 years, Macon Magazine has championed the vision and tenacity of rising leaders. This year's class, guided by the legacy of those who came before them, isn't just ready to lead. They were born to build. August/September 2025 | maconmagazine.com 41