Macon Magazine

54 maconmagazine.com | February/March 2026 They narrowed their search and began looking closely at Macon. Its central location, with easy access to major corridors like I-75 and I-16, as well as routes leading toward I-10 and the broader Southeast, already made it an attractive choice. "The Industrial Authority rolled out the red carpet," Bradley said. "They wanted us to be here, and for me that was a big key. When you're looking at places across the U.S. to build, you always want to be somewhere where people truly want you." Long before the Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority (MBCIA) received the call that Cox Farms was searching for its next BrightFarms location, the organization was preparing a piece of property at the Airport East Industrial Park for the right fit. "When a company looks at your community as a place to do business, you have to be ready with the right location, one that poses the least amount of risk," said Robby Fountain, chairman of the MBCIA, explaining that the organization had the Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development (GRAD) certification. "That certification tells companies we have done our homework, we have prepared the land, and we are ready to do business. It says we want you to create good-paying jobs in our community, and we want your product to be something you are proud to produce right here in Macon-Bibb County." According to MBCIA, companies like BrightFarms take a careful and deliberate approach before making an investment. They plan, research, and visit the communities they are considering, looking for places that have prepared their land, proven they are business-friendly, and are thinking ahead. Macon ultimately checked all the boxes for BrightFarms, especially when it came to the quality and supply of water. "The water quality in Macon was a big factor for us because lettuce is mostly water," Bradley said. "If you start with a really good product, you have to do a lot less work on the back end to make sure it is pristine." The authority worked closely with the Macon Water Authority (MWA) throughout the site selection process. Because water is the main ingredient in growing lettuce indoors, it was important for MWA to demonstrate that Macon could provide both the quality and quantity of water needed for the greenhouse. In some cases, companies with similar operations rely on well water instead of municipal systems. "We take pride in the quality of our water and in the work our team does to make sure it meets the highest standards," said MWA Chairman Gary Bechtel. "That matters not only for our residents, but also for companies like BrightFarms that are producing a Macon-made product distributed throughout the Southeast." "It was an interesting conversation to explain to

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