From Historic Macon Foundation – Macon-Bibb County Mayor Lester Miller joined other county leaders Wednesday morning to dedicate  Historic Macon’s 12 new apartments on Oglethorpe Street.

Workers broke ground for the duplexes in late 2021 and finished them 14 months later. Tenants began moving into their new homes in March.

The apartments were funded by $600,000 in American Rescue Plan funds that Macon-Bibb County commissioners approved, and a matching $600,000 grant from the Knight Foundation.

Wednesday’s speakers included Miller; Lynn Murphey, the Knight Foundation’s Macon program director; Larry Brumley, Historic Macon’s board chairman; and Ethiel Garlington, Historic Macon’s executive director. Alyse Wolf, U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff’s regional outreach coordinator, also was on hand, as were other officials from the Knight Foundation.

Murphey noted the speed with which the project came together.

“I challenge you to find any community that is moving as swiftly and strategically as Macon in deployment of American Rescue Plan funds,” she said.

Miller said that was not by accident, since affordable housing is a local — and national — need.

“This administration leads by doing,” he said. “We take action. What’s the point of having this influx of capital if we aren’t getting it to the organizations that can put it to good use for our residents, our neighbors?”

All of the apartments are one-bedroom units and include a refrigerator, oven, dishwasher and stackable washer/dryer. Water and garbage collection are included. Two of the 12 apartments are for disabled residents.