Study shows economic impact of Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ onValdosta-MSA for F.Y. 2004 was $304.7 million
January 10, 2005
05-004
Charles Harmon Director of University Relations, Dr. Cynthia Tori Associate Professor of Economics Harley Langdale, Jr. College of Business Administration (229) 245-2249
Study shows economic impact of Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ onValdosta-MSA for F.Y. 2004 was $304.7 million
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ's economic impact on Valdosta's
metropolitan statistical area (Valdosta-MSA) was $304.7 million and
4,906 jobs during Fiscal Year 2004, according to a recent study
completed through The South Georgia Institute. SGI is based in
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ's Harley Langdale, Jr. College of Business Administration. Dr.
Cynthia Royal Tori, Associate Professor of Economics, authored the
report.
The Valdosta-MSA includes Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ's home county Lowndes, as well as
Brooks, Echols, and Lanier counties. The report shows that Valdosta
State University is the third largest employer in the
Valdosta-MSA.
In order to calculate the economic impacts, Dr.Tori said the study
considers two university-related sources of local expenditures:
expenditures by Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ itself, and expenditures by students who attend
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ. She said during the time frame of the study, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ enrolled over
10,000 students during the 2003 fall and 2004 Spring Semesters and
conferred 1,953 undergraduate and graduate degrees during the
2003-2004 academic year.
The $304.7 million economic impact of Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ represents 12 percent of
the total personal income in the region. In addition the study
shows that directly and indirectly the jobs created by Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ
represent 9 percent of the labor force in the MSA. This includes
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ employees as well as new jobs generated to fill the business
and service needs of university employees and students. Two and a
half jobs are created for every job at Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ.
?Seventy-nine percent of Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ students come from outside the MSA
region, infusing significant dollars into the region's economy,?
said Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ President Ronald M. Zaccari during the Spring Semester
Convocation Address on January 6, 2005. ?The figures clearly show
how important Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ is to the MSA region.?
Fifty one percent ($154.8 million) of the $304.7 million economic
impact results from Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ students spending money on dining,
entertainment, rent, utilities, and other items, the study shows.
Student spending generates 28 percent of the jobs created by Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ's
presence.
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ is one of two regional universities with
the University System of Georgia and is located within the city
limits of Valdosta in the southwest region of Georgia. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ is about
18 miles from the Florida border.
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