GHC’s economic impact approaches $150 million

The University System of Georgia recently released the USG’s total economic impact on the state of Georgia. Of the more than $16 billion reported by the USG as a whole, Georgia Highlands College’s contribution was over $149 million. The USG report is for Fiscal Year 2016 and is conducted by the Selig Center for Economic Growth in the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business.
GHC’s economic impact was exactly: $149,423,968.
This represents an increase of over $17 million from the 2015 report, which means the college has increased its impact by more than $30 million since the Fiscal Year 2014 report.
The University System’s economic impact grew $1.3 billion, an increase of 8 percent, from fiscal year 2015 to 2016. The increase is attributed to “spending by the institution and spending by the students who attend that particular college or university.” On average, for every dollar spent by the university, an additional 52 cents is generated for that institution’s region.
“The University System is committed to its role in supporting and advancing the economic growth of the State of Georgia,” said Chancellor Steve Wrigley. “These numbers reflect the hard work and support of Georgians across the state, and we hope to continue to drive innovation, workforce development and job creation for years to come”
The economic impact of the USG is a measure of direct and indirect spending that contributes to the regions served by the System’s colleges and universities. To calculate the economic impact for FY16, the Selig Center for Economic Growth in the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business analyzed data collected between July 1, 2015, and June 30, 2016. The annual study is conducted on behalf of the Board of Regents by Jeffrey M. Humphreys, Ph.D., director of the Selig Center. The full study with data for all USG institutions is available at: https://www.usg.edu/assets/usg/docs/USG_Impact_2016.pdf Current and past economic impact studies can be found at: http://www.usg.edu/news/archive/category/economic_development

About Georgia Highlands College:
Georgia Highlands College is a multi-campus, state college member of the University System of Georgia. Founded in 1970 as Floyd Junior College, it now serves more than 6,000 students in Northwest Georgia across its five locations in Rome, Cartersville, Marietta, Dallas, and Douglasville. GHC currently offers over 30 areas of study with associate degree and bachelor’s degree options. GHC offers a Bachelor of Science in both nursing and dental hygiene.