UWG Contributes Millions to Georgia Economy
The University of West Georgia contributes $220.3 million to the state of Georgia’s economy according to a study released by the Atlanta Regional Council for Higher Education (ARCHE).
The report, “How the Atlanta Region’s Colleges and Universities Are Enriching Georgia,” brings together data from Atlanta-area private and public institutions and shows an impact from the institutions, their students, employees and visitors of more than $9.2 billion annually.
Dr. Thomas J. Hynes, acting president of UWG, said the numbers are even higher in gauging the real economic value of the university.
“We are delighted to confirm the level of our contributions to the economic success of the region,” said Hynes. “But what may be more important to recognize about these results is that they are conservative. They include the direct and indirect economic activity created on an annual basis by the spending of the institution and employees and students. They also include the economic gain from capital expenditures.
“What the data does not include is the annual economic value derived from the education--that the difference in income between a college graduate and a high school graduate is nearly a million dollars over the lifetime in the workplace. And that annualized economic benefit is unstated in this research.”
According to the report, the university’s economic impact upon the state and the west Georgia region includes $194.3 million in annual spending by UWG and its employees, students and visitors to Carrollton and Carroll County.
There are other benefits to having a university in the region, said Slater Barr, president and CEO of Carroll Tomorrow.
“The report confirms that the university is a significant economic engine,” said Bar. “However, it really underestimates its contribution. The report addresses only the economic impact. What it doesn’t capture, however, is the quality of life and cultural enrichment created by the university presence. Not only do those amenities benefit the local community directly, but they also make the community more attractive to prospective businesses. The impact of the university extends far beyond its economic impact.”
The ARCHE report also recorded a $26 million impact from capitol improvements on campus and more than 2,000 jobs generated across all industry sectors in the region in the overview. ARCHE President Michael A. Gerber said the report gives us another way to look at the state’s higher institutions.
“These are not only great educational institutions-they’re major developers, they’re tourist attractions and they’re big employers,” said Gerber.
For more information, visit www.atlantahighered.org.
