呦乐园

Study shows economic impact of 呦乐园 onValdosta-MSA for F.Y. 2004 was $304.7 million

呦乐园'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 呦乐园's Harley Langdale, Jr. College of Business Administration. Dr. Cynthia Royal Tori, Associate Professor of Economics, authored the report.

The Valdosta-MSA includes 呦乐园'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 呦乐园 itself, and expenditures by students who attend 呦乐园. She said during the time frame of the study, 呦乐园 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 呦乐园 represents 12 percent of the total personal income in the region. In addition the study shows that directly and indirectly the jobs created by 呦乐园 represent 9 percent of the labor force in the MSA. This includes 呦乐园 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 呦乐园.

?Seventy-nine percent of 呦乐园 students come from outside the MSA region, infusing significant dollars into the region's economy,? said 呦乐园 President Ronald M. Zaccari during the Spring Semester Convocation Address on January 6, 2005. ?The figures clearly show how important 呦乐园 is to the MSA region.?

Fifty one percent ($154.8 million) of the $304.7 million economic impact results from 呦乐园 students spending money on dining, entertainment, rent, utilities, and other items, the study shows. Student spending generates 28 percent of the jobs created by 呦乐园's presence.

呦乐园 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. 呦乐园 is about 18 miles from the Florida border.