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College Hill Corridor Receives 5 Million Dollar Grant
Adam Hammond
Story Created:
Jun 22, 2009 at 3:29 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Jun 22, 2009 at 10:37 PM CDT
The College Hill Corridor Commission is celebrating a five million dollar grant from the Knight Foundation. They say this is the largest gift to Middle Georgia in history.
"Macon is a magnificent city with so much treasure and intellectual talent and we feel by doing this revitalization we’ll bring more people to live work play and study in Macon, Georgia," said Beverly Blake with the Knight Foundation.
Officials say the grant will create resources so businesses like Jittery Joes in the College Hill Corridor Area will move downtown. They say this is sure to heat up the economy and culture of downtown Macon.
Sarah Gerwig-Moore says two million dollars of the grant will support a catalytic business development program for a down payment assistance fund. The rest of the money will go to other community building programs.
"We need programs and activities that foster excitement about the community and real pride in the community and a lot of people have that already, and I think this will help us take that to the next level," said Gerwig-Moore.
Students say the grant will help unite the neighborhoods between Mercer and downtown.
"This is a great opportunity and recognition from the Knight Foundation about the strength of downtown Macon and the strength of Mercer University, and this means that we're going to finally be able to have a meaningful connection between the students and the community," said Mercer student Matt Wetherington.
Congressman Jim Marshall says he is working to get government funding for College Hill projects.
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