The Economic and Community Development Department’s mission is to promote diversity and economic development in the community and enhance the living and working choices for all Macon citizens.Economic and Community Development oversees the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership grants that the City receives from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).Economic and Community Development also oversees Macon’s Neighborhood Challenge, a partnership of nonprofits, banks and other agencies whose goal is to promote comprehensive and coordinated redevelopment of Macon’s neighborhoods.

Macon's Neighborhood Challenge History:
In the Spring of 1992, shortly after he took office, Mayor Tommy Olmstead arranged for a group of local banking executives, housing professionals and City leaders to travel to Tampa, Florida to view the results of a very successful housing partnership. Following the trip, the Mayor "challenged" these officials to begin laying the groundwork for an exciting new housing and neighborhood revitalization partnership: MACON NEIGHBORHOOD CHALLENGE. The initial "challenge" was to create several new housing programs that would result in financial commitments from the banking community. And here, the "challenge" has been met and continues with our current Mayor.

The longer term challenge has been to get neighborhood groups and non-profit organizations involved in the identification and implementation of neighborhood revitalization projects and in the delivery of Macon's Neighborhood Challenge Programs.

Using its U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds, the City of Macon began approving Home Improvement (HIP) loans in November 1992. And in the Spring of 1993, Macon's Neighborhood Challenge was formally christened as participating lenders began approving loans.

Using these resources the Economic and Community Development Department offers assistance in the following program areas:

Housing and Economic Development:
Through housing and programs, Economic and Community Development helps make home improvement affordable for low and moderate-income homeowners and elderly residents, first-time homebuyers, landlords.The Economic and Community Development Department also helps to create jobs and encourage economic development through its Small Business Assistance Program.The Economic and Community Development Department offers the following programs to help improve housing and economic conditions in Macon:

• Home Improvement Program (HIP) 
• Home Purchase Program (HPP)
• Affordable Housing Program
• Small Business Development Assistance Program (SBDAP)
  

Administrative Staff:
Alice Robert, Program Specialist
Lanier McCuin, Projects Manager
Wanzina Jackson, Urban Planner
Mirna Cesar-Chevry, Marketing/Advertising
Senesta Corbin, Office Assistant
Robert Myers, Administrative Assistant

Loan and Construction Department:
Harold Wilson, Assistant Director
Janice Harvey, Loan Manager
Sharon Ogletree, Loan Specialist
Jennifer Franklin, Loan Specialist
Tom Sitten, Construction Svc. Manager
Martha Ann Altman, Office Assistant
Earl Green, Construction Specialist

Loan Accounts:
Royces Banks-Jarrell, Loan Accounts Manager
Anne Schofield, Collections Clerk

Accounting:
Rose Krakoski, Accounting Manager
Lynn Harris, Accounting Tech
Menyon Drumgold, Accounting Technician / Housing

Code Enforcement:
Charlotte Woody, Property Inspections Manager
Helen Carstarphen-Joyner, Administrative Assistant
Mary Hill, Data Entry Technician
Tameko Florence, Data Entry Technician
Raymond Barksdale, Property Inspector
Charity Dickey, Property Inspector
Mae Smith, Property Inspector
William Mander, Property Inspector
Joseph Okere, Property Inspector
Wilburt Thurman, Property Inspector