Mayor, Commission fund more MVP grants

The Macon-Bibb County Commission has approved allocating $500,000 towards the Macon Violence Prevention (MVP) initiative. The money is being given to the Community Foundation of Central Georgia (CFCG) to distribute to organizations for a third round of MVP grants. Mayor Lester Miller and the CFCG will announce the grant recipients on Wednesday, July 31.

Since the inception of MVP in 2021, 40 non-profit organizations and programs aimed to prevent violent crime in our community have used these grant funds to work directly in neighborhoods and with our families and children. More will be announced next week.

"It truly takes a village, and we can't prevent violent crime with just one person or group," says Mayor Miller. "These organizations have proven to help our community in so many different ways and I am so appreciative of their work. I can't wait to see what we continue to do together."

From 2022 to 2023, there was a 43% percent reduction in homicides, going from 70 to 40. The reduction in homicides for children (those 18 years old and younger) went from 15 in 2022 to 5 in 2023 - which is a 66.7% reduction in just one year.

"We need to remember each number is one life and there is so much more than a statistic. So, we will continue to make a strong effort in making sure we protect each life and guide them in the right direction," said Mayor Miller. "That's MVP."

Click here to learn more about MVP.