City of Macon Hopes To Win Big In National Competition

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The City of Macon is hoping consolidation will help it win big in a national competition.

Macon is one of 305 cities across the nation taking on the Mayors Challenge, presented by Bloomberg Philanthropies. It is a competition to come up with the biggest, boldest and most innovate idea to improve city life.

“We wanted to submit an idea that we’re building a new government, not simply merging, but this was an opportunity to take an in depth and active look in how government works in the 21st century,” Chris Floore with the City of Macon said.

The city with the best idea wins a five million dollar grand prize and four runners up will get one million dollars. City leaders believe the idea of consolidation will help them win the top prize.

“We truly believe with that 21st century government we could impact any area identified, whether it was economic development, whether it was looking a crime more in depth, whether it was housing code violations,” Floore said. “Any of those aspects could be looked at in a brand new government.”

Twenty finalists will be selected in October. Bloomberg Philanthropies says it will announce the winners in the spring 2013.