Macon-Bibb backs nonprofit’s bid for up to $1.5M to build 10 affordable homes in South Macon

The Macon-Bibb County Commission voted Jan. 6 to send a resolution in support of a nonprofit’s application to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) for Community Home Investment Program (CHIP) funding to construct 10 affordable, for-sale homes in South Macon.

Everett Verner, executive director of the Macon-Bibb County Land Bank Authority, and Natalie Boyette, executive director of the Macon-Bibb County Affordable Housing Fund, told commissioners the nonprofit intends to apply for up to $1.5 million from DCA and to leverage $1,000,000 in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds that the county previously allocated to the housing fund. "This is an extremely generous program," Verner said, adding the grant includes mandatory down-payment assistance and can be used to subsidize development costs if construction costs exceed post-completion value. Boyette said the program limits purchasers to households at 80% of area median income and that the homes are for ownership, not rent.

Commissioners and presenters described the project area near Hausen Avenue and Cliffview (referred to in the transcript also in variants such as Halston/Haston/Cliff View). Verner said the initiative would add to roughly 17 planned or developed new-construction homes in that part of South Macon and estimated an approximate 18-month timeline for construction. He said the nonprofit is coordinating with local partners including a "100 Black Men of Macon" chapter, primary care providers and workforce-readiness groups to support the project and potential buyers.

Commissioners asked how potential buyers would find and apply for the homes; Boyette described outreach through local realtors, lenders and Chamber-led trainings and said the fund maintains a website listing available developments. County staff noted the commission previously provided $50,000 to the nonprofit HomeFirst to support financial readiness work for potential homeowners.

The presiding officer called the motion to place a resolution of support on the consent agenda; the motion carried unanimously. The resolution will accompany the nonprofit’s CHIP application to DCA. No formal DCA award was made at the meeting; the resolution is a county letter of support to strengthen the nonprofit’s grant application.

What happens next: the resolution was sent to the consent agenda and will be included with the applicant’s submission to DCA; the application’s review and any award are controlled by DCA and not decided by the commission.