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University Impact on Economic Development

Explore how Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, with its forward-thinking initiatives, partnerships, and resources, revitalized neighborhoods and downtown, paving the way for economic growth and community development. Learn about the challenges and opportunities it faced and how building partnerships and leveraging resources were key to its success.

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University Impact on Economic Development

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  1. University Impact on Economic Development Mercer University Macon, Georgia

  2. Macon: Challenges • Mid-sized city: 135,000 • Declining population • Continuing white flight • Losing manufacturing base • Struggling school system

  3. Macon: Opportunities • Growing region • 160 miles from Savannah’s port • 75 miles from Atlanta Airport • Intersection of I-75 & I-20 • Intact historic downtown & intown neighborhoods--undervalued • Largest medical complex between Jacksonville and Atlanta

  4. Mercer University • 7500 students • 10 schools & colleges in Atlanta and Macon • Princeton Review “Highly Selective” • US News “Top 10 Regional Universities” • Princeton Review “College with a Conscience”

  5. Impact on Neighborhood Revitalization • Direct University investment $630K • Leveraged direct investment $53 million • 213 new units multi-family • 103 new & rehab units home ownership • 44 low-income owner-occupied homes renovated • 34 Mercer staff bought homes with down payment assistance

  6. Beall’s Hill Charrette & Urban Design and Architectural Guidelines awarded Charter Award from the Congress for the New Urbanism in 2005

  7. Impact on Downtown Revitalization • Renovation and management of Grand Opera House • Master lease on 150 loft apartments (first residential investment in downtown) • Major multi-disciplinary medical clinic • Hilton Garden Hotel • Renovation of downtown block for office space (University & commercial)

  8. Why the University?? • Anchor institution with major investment in campus & historic identity in Macon • Strong & varied human resources • Broad economic perspective & understanding of urban problems

  9. Building Partnerships • Able to convene and facilitate partnerships across sectors • Able to help shape holistic solutions to economic problems • Able to bring long range and stable perspective to development

  10. Leveraging Resources • University brings fund raising and grant writing expertise • University interest in vital community transcends bottom-line economic value of investment • Access to marginal equity is often difference between success and failure

  11. Community Identifying common interests Building trust, communication, resilience Working with high capacity, reliable partners University Acknowledging the University’s political and economic responsibility Acquiring hands-on expertise or creating reliable vehicle for investment What It Takes

  12. The Biggest Challenge?Incorporating Authentic Community Voice • Distressed communities are inherently unequal in power • Distressed communities rarely have well-developed political structures • University may play dual role as neighborhood advocate and self-interested party

  13. Peter C. Brown, Ph.D. Associate Vice President Mercer Center for Community Engagement www.mercer.edu/mccd 478.301.5370

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