The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame is one step closer to officially staying in Macon. Now it’s just down to the paperwork.

The state quit paying staff salaries and other expenses at the museum in July. Since then, the non-profit group Newtown Macon that will ultimately manage the facility has paid the bills.

But Newtown’s Mike Ford says recently they discovered the state cannot lease the building to a non-profit, leaving his organization in limbo since the summer.

“The state still has outstanding bonds, so the transaction was changed so that the development authority of Bibb County enters into a lease with the State of Georgia.”

Newtown will reimburse the development authority for the $10,000 a month in rent. Ford hopes state officials will sign off on the deal before the end of the year.

Tags: Macon, Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, Newtown Macon, Mike Ford