This Month's Latest Tech News in Macon, GA - Sunday August 31st 2025 Edition

Weekly commentary: Macon's tech future feels like a turning point as a proposed 900‑acre Bolingbroke Technology Center - a “mega site” of nine server buildings that would draw roughly 1 million gallons of water per day at peak use - ignites a clash between promises of roughly $60 million a year in tax revenue and residents fighting to protect a quiet, tree‑lined way of life; local coverage of the rezoning fight and the Planning & Zoning Board's unanimous recommendation to deny the proposal underscores how packed public hearings and utility questions have shifted the debate (Macon Telegraph coverage of the Bolingbroke data center rezoning vote), even as a state pause on data‑center reviews leaves planners without the usual technical guidance (The Current GA: state pauses review of data center plans).

The larger lesson for Central Georgia: economic opportunity from AI infrastructure is real, but community safeguards, transparent water and power plans, and workforce training will decide whether tech becomes a local asset or a long‑term strain.

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“We chose our home for the quiet, the trees, and the promise of a residential neighborhood.” (Margo Kenirey)

The Bolingbroke Technology Campus rezoning was dealt a decisive setback this month as Monroe County leaders and a packed public - many in red “Say No to Rezoning” shirts - pushed back on plans for a massive data‑center campus that would have sprawled roughly 900–970 acres northwest of Macon; local reporting shows the Planning & Zoning board voted unanimously against the change and the County Commission later denied the rezoning amid worries about noise, traffic, wetlands and the site's projected water draw of about 1 million gallons per day, even as proponents touted up to $60 million in annual tax revenue and hundreds of jobs (see WGXA's coverage and Data Center Dynamics' site analysis).

The fight crystallized in vivid moments - a neighbor playing a sound machine to simulate constant cooling hum, a near‑full meeting room, and repeated questions about who would actually supply the power and water - underscoring that infrastructure unknowns, environmental sensitivity, and community character will shape whether large AI infrastructure becomes an economic boon or a long‑term strain for Central Georgia.

Item	Detail
Footprint	About 900–970 acres (Bolingbroke area)
Buildings	Nine data center buildings (total ~5.4M sq ft)
Power plan	Six 100MW + three 200MW facilities (per site plan)
Water use	≈1,000,000 gallons per day at full operation
Estimated value	≈$5.8–6 billion
Estimated annual tax revenue	≈$60 million
Projected jobs (construction/long‑term)	Hundreds during build; ~275 jobs cited
Planned build phases	Phases completing in 2029, 2031, 2033 (per filings)
Rezoning outcome	Planning & Zoning denied (unanimous); County Commission vote: denied

“We are disappointed by the Board's decision tonight. This project is a thoughtful, community-driven proposal designed to bring meaningful long-term benefits to Monroe County. We will be evaluating our next steps.”

Inside the initial Bolingbroke filings: scale, timeline, and utility implications - the proposal sketches a true mega‑site (roughly 900–970 acres with nine data‑center buildings totaling about 5.4 million sq ft), a power plan that layers six 100MW and three 200MW facilities, and a peak water demand estimated at roughly 1,000,000 gallons per day, with build phases stretching into 2029, 2031 and 2033; those numbers make clear this isn't a quick build but a long, infrastructure‑heavy program that will hinge on transmission upgrades, new substations and reliable water sources.

That matters because Georgia's rapid rise as the nation's busiest data‑center market has already exposed multiyear power delivery delays, tariff changes, and statewide water‑use concerns - McGuireWoods report on Georgia data‑center surge and policy pressures (McGuireWoods report on Georgia data‑center surge and policy pressures).

In short, the filings put the spotlight on a practical question residents and planners keep asking: can local utilities and permitting processes move at the pace required without shifting costs or environmental burdens onto the community - a concern echoed in broader federal and regional conversations about siting and impacts (federal plans for AI data centers at the Savannah River Site and regional impacts: Federal plans for AI data centers at the Savannah River Site and regional impacts).

Community reaction and public hearings: Monroe County residents take sides - packed rooms, red “Say No to Rezoning” shirts and a near‑full Monroe County Conference Center underscored how raw the debate became as neighbors and boosters squared off over the proposed 900‑acre Bolingbroke Technology Center.

Opponents waved concerns about noise, wetlands and an estimated peak water draw of about 1,000,000 gallons per day, while supporters pointed to as much as $60 million a year in tax revenue and new infrastructure investment.

Local reporting captured the split, including GPB's coverage of the zoning vote and The Macon Telegraph's detailed reporting on the heated public meetings.

Item	Detail
Attendance	≈300 residents at P&Z meeting
Site footprint	≈900 acres (Bolingbroke)
Peak water use	≈1,000,000 gallons/day
P&Z outcome	Unanimous denial
Estimated annual tax revenue	≈$60 million

“Data centers generate significant noise and consume enormous amounts of power and water. We chose our home for the quiet, the trees, and the promise of a residential neighborhood.” - Margo Kenirey

Federal momentum on AI education following the April 2025 executive order could be a practical win for Central Georgia's schools and workforce pipelines: the White House Task Force on AI Education initiative page (White House Task Force on AI Education initiative), and implementation guidance calls for teacher professional development and grant guidance within months alongside a Challenge framework that includes multiple age categories and regional competitions (ACSA summary of the executive order advancing AI for youth).

For Central Georgia that means a likely influx of federal learning materials, timed teacher PD, and industry partnerships that could help local districts and technical colleges build AI literacy and career pathways - imagine county classrooms receiving curated AI lesson sets and teacher training within a single academic year - even as transparency and follow‑through at the federal level will determine how quickly and equitably those resources actually land in classrooms (Nelson Mullins analysis of the federal AI Action Plan and executive orders).

SON Technologies and esports-to-cyber pathway: local workforce innovation - SON (Swagged Out Nerds) is turning Macon's gaming culture into an on-ramp for IT and cybersecurity careers, from a bustling Isekai convention that drew “more than 1,000 cosplayers, gamers, and nerds” to stacked credential wins: the Air Force veteran founders Jason Clarke and John Robinson run tournaments, high-school pathways, and an eight-week “Sticks to Clicks” adult bootcamp that helped a participant earn CompTIA Security+ in seven weeks and land a $46,000/year network role; in the 2025–26 school year 150 students completed SON's program and left with stackable IT credentials.

Backed by Georgia Tech and accepted into ATDC's portfolio in 2024, SON pairs partners like Aperion Global Institute and EC-Council with local districts (Houston County) and game studios (Blaze Fire Games) to seed a practical esports→cyber pipeline that aims to close Georgia's looming cyber talent gap - read the full Georgia Tech profile on SON's model and ATDC support for more context.

Item	Detail
Founders	Jason Clarke & John Robinson (Air Force veterans)
2025–26 students	150 earned stackable IT credentials
Adult program	“Sticks to Clicks” - 8 weeks (CompTIA Security+ example)
Incubator status	ATDC Accelerate portfolio company (joined 2024)

“The truth is when you're starting a company, the first few years are the worst of your life.” - Nwanyinma Dike, Georgia AIM / ATDC liaison

CGTC's dual week: active shooter hoax response and ongoing AI adoption in technical education - Central Georgia Technical College's Macon campus was forced into a shelter‑in‑place on Aug.

26 after a 911 call reporting an active shooter triggered an immediate, visible law‑enforcement surge with crime‑scene tape and “over a dozen cruisers” as campus police, the Bibb County Sheriff's Office and Georgia State Patrol swept buildings; officials later determined the call to be a hoax and issued an all‑clear roughly an hour after the first alert, allowing dual‑enrollment students to be released and bus schedules to resume (CGTC timeline and statement).

That local scramble mirrors a nationwide rash of swatting-style hoax calls that have rattled campuses and tested emergency communications even as technical colleges press ahead with AI curriculum and workforce programs - a reminder that campuses must thread vigilant safety planning into the same playbook that brings new training and technology to the classroom (national coverage of swatting-style hoax calls).

Item	Detail
Call received	About 1:04–1:10 p.m. (reports)
Campus alert	1:37 p.m. emergency notification (CGTC)
All‑clear	Between ~2:25–2:40 p.m.; normal operations resumed
Responding agencies	CGTC Police, Bibb County Sheriff's Office, Georgia State Patrol
Immediate impacts	Delayed dual‑enrollment release, slight afternoon bus interruptions

“The response time is something the College and community should be proud of.”

Startup ecosystem growth: SON/ATDC partnership and incubator wins for Middle Georgia - SON Technologies, the Macon esports startup founded by Air Force veterans Jason Clarke and John Robinson, is turning gaming culture into a practical tech pipeline after joining Georgia Tech's ATDC in 2024 under the AI & Manufacturing vertical sponsored by Georgia AIM; the company's “Sticks to Clicks” adult bootcamp (eight weeks) and high‑school curriculum helped 150 students in 2025–26 earn stackable IT credentials and produced early hires, including one graduate who earned CompTIA Security+ in week seven and was hired to install network infrastructure for $46,000/year.

Backed by ATDC's resources and statewide networking, SON scaled fundraising and outreach - “from starting this convention in a pizza shop to now packing an entire plaza downtown” - and forged partnerships with Blaze Fire Games and the Houston County School District to solidify an esports→cyber pathway that aims to close Georgia's looming cyber talent gap; see the Georgia Tech profile on SON and ATDC's incubator overview for details.

Item	Detail
Founders	Jason Clarke & John Robinson
ATDC membership	Joined ATDC in 2024 (AI & Manufacturing vertical, Georgia AIM)
2025–26 students	150 earned stackable IT credentials
Adult program	“Sticks to Clicks” - 8 weeks (CompTIA Security+ example)
Partnerships	Blaze Fire Games; Houston County School District; Aperion Global Institute; EC‑Council

“When people think of gamers, you think of a 40-year-old person in their mom's basement, but we wanted to change the perception. Gamers have employable skills that can be used for substantial IT work.” - Clarke

Industrial AI for manufacturing: Siemens' playbook and local manufacturing relevance - Siemens is pushing generative AI from design desks to the shop floor with its Hermes‑Awarded Siemens Industrial Copilot Hermes Award 2025 press release and a new, multi‑agent architecture that promises to "automate automation" across design, planning, engineering, operations and services; the vendor projects productivity uplifts of up to 50%, speeds SCL/PLC code generation by roughly 60%, and extends predictive maintenance so pilots report about a 25% cut in reactive maintenance time (Siemens AI agents industrial automation briefing, Digital Engineering coverage of Siemens generative maintenance enhancements).

For Macon manufacturers and local machine shops, those capabilities translate into fewer specialized coding bottlenecks, faster trouble‑shooting, and more accessible automation tools - a practical route to boost uptime and make smaller plants more competitive without hiring an army of PLC programmers.

“In a factory environment, our Industrial AI agents connect different copilots and automate workflows across the entire value chain. This creates a unified approach that makes industrial AI accessible to everyone, regardless of their technical background or experience level. We envision a future where Industrial AI agents work seamlessly alongside human workers, handling routine processes independently while enabling humans to focus on innovation, creativity, and complex problem‑solving.” - Rainer Brehm, CEO Factory Automation at Siemens Digital Industries

Mercer University downtown medical school: medical education meets tech-enabled healthcare demand - Mercer's decision to relocate its School of Medicine to a riverfront parcel at 815 Riverside Drive is as much about modernizing clinical training as it is about catalyzing downtown Macon's tech‑health ecosystem: the Urban Development Authority approved the sale that clears nearly 10 acres for a project estimated up to $75 million, backed by major gifts including a $10M Peyton Anderson commitment and a $5M Knight Foundation grant and paired with proposed state support (the land purchase was reported at $1.9 million).

Placing a 21st‑century medical campus on the Ocmulgee River promises expanded capacity (Mercer aims to grow MD enrollment and research space), closer ties between physicians, engineers and local manufacturers, and spillover retail and housing - a visible, tangible pivot from the 1982-era facility toward simulation labs, research suites and tech-enabled clinical training that could draw health-tech startups downtown (see Mercer's announcement and coverage of the land deal for details).

Item	Detail
Site	815 Riverside Drive (≈10 acres, riverfront)
Sale price	$1.9 million
Estimated project cost	Up to $75 million
Key grants	Peyton Anderson Foundation $10M; Knight Foundation $5M; proposed state $25M
Enrollment goal / capacity	Grow MD program (target ~240 students across campuses)

“Developing a riverfront home for the Mercer University School of Medicine seizes a unique opportunity to construct a stunning new facility designed to meet the needs of a growing student population with 21st century technology at an important gateway into Macon.” - William D. Underwood, Mercer University

BrightFarms' Macon greenhouse is a tangible example of ag‑tech scaling with an eye on sustainability: the site began shipping in late 2024 and, once fully built out to roughly 1.5 million square feet, will serve as a regional hub that cuts food miles and speeds freshness - greens harvested in Macon can reach store shelves in as little as 24 hours - while deploying Green Automation's lettuce systems and Kubo ultra‑clima climate controls to drive year‑round yields; the facility already produces about 22,000 pounds of lettuce a day in its current phase, created more than 125 local jobs so far and is projected to support 250+ positions at full capacity, and it hosts the new Cox Farms Discovery Center to train the next generation of ag‑tech workers.

See BrightFarms' shipping announcement and the Macon Chamber coverage for details.

Item	Detail
Location	Macon, Georgia
Facility size (planned)	Up to 1.5 million sq. ft. when fully built
Current growing footprint	Eight acres (with expansion planned)
Production capacity	≈22,000 lbs of greens per day
Jobs	125+ created to date; 250+ projected at full build
Tech highlights	Green Automation growing systems; Kubo ultra‑clima climate control
Freshness	Store shelves in as little as 24 hours

“We're thrilled to have started shipping from our first greenhouse in Georgia, expanding access to our pesticide-free leafy greens across the country.” - Abby Prior, Chief Commercial Officer, BrightFarms

Other local tech & policy notes: the national churn hasn't spared the region's planning conversations - Microsoft's May cuts (about 6,000 jobs, roughly 3% of its workforce) landed as a stark reminder that even profitable AI‑builders are reshaping workforces (CNBC report on Microsoft's 3% workforce reduction (May 2025)), while TechCrunch's rolling tracker shows the broader pattern (more than 22,000 known tech layoffs in 2025 so far, with a startling 16,084 in February alone), underscoring a sector‑wide rebalancing as companies prioritize AI and efficiency over headcount (TechCrunch tracker of 2025 tech layoffs and company cuts).

For Central Georgia that means a two‑way pressure: talent displaced by big‑tech reorganizations could feed local startups and training programs, but short‑term demand shocks may tighten hiring and vendor support locally - all against the backdrop of federal moves like the White House AI Action Plan that promise fast money and fast trade‑offs for regional infrastructure and workforce investments (Overview of the White House AI Action Plan and federal AI investments).

Conclusion: policy choices, training pipelines, and community-led tech planning for Macon's next chapter - Macon's choices now will determine whether growth is a local win or an external burden, and recent moves show the ingredients for a pragmatic path: expand accessible training, lock in community safeguards, and pair state and private dollars with plain‑spoken local planning.

Central Georgia Technical College's new approval to offer four Associate of Science pathways and its Bloomberg‑backed regional healthcare high school planning (with free transportation and dual‑enrollment pathways that let students “literally catch the bus” from nearby counties) are concrete steps toward building home‑grown talent rather than importing workers, while targeted grants and nursing workforce awards shore up short‑term clinical needs; see CGTC's program announcement for details.

Complementary short, applied options - like Nucamp AI Essentials for Work 15-week bootcamp - can move incumbent workers into AI‑aware roles quickly, giving employers ready talent without a multi‑year pipeline gap.

The policy imperative is simple: align permitting and utility planning with clear workforce promises, fund stacked credentials that transfer to four‑year degrees, and keep community voices central so Macon captures the economic upside of tech without losing the place people call home.

Item	Detail
CGTC new Associate degrees	Four Associate of Science pathways approved (Criminal Justice, Social Work, Psychology, Education)
Regional healthcare high school	$700,000 Bloomberg Philanthropies planning grant; partners: CGTC, Houston County School District, Houston Healthcare; free transportation/laptops
Prior nursing workforce grant	$3.66M HRSA award to expand nursing capacity at CGTC

“Our goal is to expose students early to a health care career 9th, 10th grade starting to get those skills in terms of the classroom so we can seamlessly move them into clinical training toward that 11th, 12th grade year.” - Alvin Harmon, CGTC Associate Vice President