People across the country are packing their bags to move to Macon, and at least five are getting paid to do it. Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce has so far offered a $7,000 incentive package to 17 movers ranging from Georgia to Arizona.
The chamber partnered with MakeMyMove last July in an effort to boost the city’s economy. Greater Macon’s vice president of operations J.R. Olive says the organization signed a contract to bring $1 million in household income through the program.
“We’re getting a lot of traction,” Olive says. “[MakeMyMove] is constantly praising the engagement we have with our incentives.”
MakeMyMove is an increasingly popular website that allows people to apply for incentive packages created and funded by cities around the country. Macon’s deal includes $2,500 in cash, a six-month downtown parking pass, a gym membership at the recently-opened One Life Fitness and a slew of discounts and passes for local businesses. They even offer a discounted security deposit for renters of NewTown Macon properties.
Olive says the idea to partner with MakeMyMove came from Georgia’s second-largest city, Columbus.
Columbus’s Regional Prosperity Initiative launched its program in 2024. RPI Executive Director Tabetha Getz says more than 8,000 applications rolled in that year, of which only 15 movers were selected. The success led to Columbus relaunching an application in 2025, and again this year.
Getz says, “When we launched our program, I think the timing was just right. Things have settled down a little bit more now, and it’ll be a more steady stream of people who are interested.”
Olive says the original goal was ten movers, which presumably would hit the $1 million threshold. After just three moves, the Chamber of Commerce surpassed the financial goal.
The minimum yearly salary for the incentive deal is $65,000, just above Macon’s median income. Olive says bringing in above-average earners will attract more businesses to funnel into the city.
“People are talking online about Costco or Trader Joe’s and things like that. The mayor likes to put stuff like that on social media. I think that boosting the economic profile of the city as a whole creates an opportunity for everyone.”
