Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/857596
A U G U S T / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 7 M A C O N M A G A Z I N E | 69 What do you think are Macon-Bibb's most important assets? Macon-Bibb is fortunate to have ready access to important assets that are the envy of many communities: Transportation - road, rail, air and sea; Utilities - water, wastewater, alternative sources of power; Data - voice, broadband and wireless; Medical services - one of the most advanced in the nation; Education - a K-12 system that produces scholars for the best schools in the world, post-secondary schools of business, engineering, medicine, law, nursing and the list goes on. We also are home to one of the largest technical colleges in the state offering degree, certificate and diploma programs and boast the state's only School of Aviation. What are some of the innovative programs the chamber is involved in? One of the most exciting new programs is the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!). YEA! is a national program that teaches middle and high school students how to start their own companies. Macon was the first Chamber in the state to launch the program and graduated 20 students from the inaugural class this past May. Throughout the eight-month program, the students have a mixture of classroom learning, mentoring and field trips. They develop feasible and viable business plans, pitch to investors for real funding and launch their own fully-formed companies. With skilled workforce initiatives currently being the most important aspect of economic development throughout the country, we know that this program will certainly be a nice complement to the other initiatives we are implementing. The Chamber is currently accepting applications for the 2017-18 class of YEA! Deadline for applications is Aug. 31. For more information, visit maconchamber.com. GREATER MACON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 305 Coliseum Drive | (478) 621-2000 MaconChamber.com What might the public be surprised to know about the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce? Most people would be surprised to know all of the things the Chamber does on a daily basis to make Macon a great place for business! In addition, people are always surprised to know that the Chamber is a non-profit membership organization and not part of the Macon-Bibb government. And it would really surprise people to know the impact the Chamber has made in Macon over the years, not only in bringing so many businesses to Macon and implementing wonderful programs like Leadership Macon and Young Professionals Network, but also in spearheading major community initiatives. Some of those initiatives include: leading the effort in 1941 to have the "U.S. War Department to select Wellston, 13 miles south of Macon, as the site for a new Air Corp Depot" (now Robins Air Force Base), to leading the effort in the 1970s to help establish a medical school as part of Mercer University, to leading the effort for close to 100 years to consolidate the governments of Macon and Bibb County. The economic impact of the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce is truly immeasurable. YEA! Graduation, May 2017