The Macon-Bibb County Commission approved naming a block of downtown Macon after the late Mercer alum and NewTown Macon President and CEO Josh Rogers on Nov. 18, 2025 as part of their Macon Action Plan, and unveiled the block on Jan. 22, 2026. Josh Rogers Way is located along a stretch of Third Street between Poplar Street and Cherry Street, a stretch of road that boasts Macon Bagels, Piedmont Brewery and Wear . President and CEO of NewTown Macon James Fritze told WGXA that Josh Rogers Way now has bars, venues, restaurants, a rock climbing gym and Shuster’s Ice Cream. Under Rogers, NewTown Macon was responsible for millions of dollars in investments and loans across downtown, sparking many of the businesses that exist now. “Having a downtown that brings people joy, more than just being a place for commerce, was always core to what Josh and I wanted for Macon,” Director of Planning and Public Spaces for Macon-Bibb County and Mercer alum Alex Morrison ‘07 told Macon-Bibb County. Coming out of Waycross, Ga. Rogers told The Den that Mercer was “an easy, obvious choice for him,” as he wanted to go to a small liberal arts college. He started his undergraduate studies in 2001, and graduat
