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. What It Takes Community University 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

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. Associate Vice President Mercer Center for Community Engagement
Peter C. Brown, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President
Mercer Center for Community Engagement