ABAC $$$ Impact

Sept. 26, 2017

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126

tiftongrapevine.com

ALMOST $370 MILLION

ABAC's SOUTH GEORGIA IMPACT GROWS 12 PERCENT, STUDY SAYS

Tifton's Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College had an economic impact of $369,874,664 on South Georgia during the 2016 fiscal year, according to a state study.

The University System of Georgia sanctioned the study, conducted by the Selig Center for Economic Growth in the University of Georgia's Terry College of Business. The entire university system had an overall economic impact of $16.8 billion on the state's economy.


	ABAC students walking along campus recently.

ABAC President David Bridges

points to several factors for the 12.1 per cent or $40,029,938 in growth over the 2014 fiscal year report, which had shown ABAC with an economic impact of $329,844,725.

"The enrollment at ABAC has increased in three of the past five fall semesters at ABAC. That kind of growth is not happening at other colleges and universities in South Georgia," Bridges says.

"The number of students pursuing bachelor's degrees on our campus has jumped from 41 in 2008 to about 2,000 today. That's a significant increase."

The ABAC Place and ABAC Lakeside housing complexes on campus have also been at capacity with about 1,400 students living on campus. Many ABAC students also rent houses and apartments in the community.

"All of our students are eating in the restaurants, buying from the stores and contributing to the local economy," Bridges says. "Not to be dramatic but can you imagine what Tifton would be like without the 3,400 ABAC students plus all the ABAC employees and their families?"


	DR. RENATA ELAD

Dr. Renata Elad, dean of ABAC's Stafford School of Business, analyzed the data from the USG report. She says it's no surprisethat the ABAC economic footprint continues to grow.

"With 250 employees, ABAC stimulates the region's labor income in an amount over $50 million," Elad says. "The multiplier effect of the employees at ABAC results in 886 other employees in the area. This helps in no small way to keep the unemployment rate in South Georgia very low."

Elad says ABAC student spending reached a record $41,096,923 during the 2016 fiscal year.

"These students are paying for food, gas, rent and entertainment," Elad says. "Some of these students later become employees and eventually employers who further enhance the region's economic growth and development."

Bridges agrees. One of his favorite themes in recent years has been that "life is better at ABAC." He applies that same mantra to Tifton and South Georgia.

"After they have lived in this community for four years going to ABAC, a lot of ABAC graduates are going to find jobs here, get married, have children and contribute even more to the economy long term," Bridges says. "Life is better at ABAC, but life is also better in South Georgia. ABAC graduates realize that and settle down in the community."

TIFTON GAZETTE, WALB-TV PARENT COMPANIES TO MERGE; NEWSPAPER FUTURE UNCERTAIN

A merger was announced Monday between two large media companies -- the parent company of several South Georgia newspapers, including The Tifton Gazette, and the parent company of WALB-TV in Albany and WTXL-TV in Tallahassee.

The merger of Community Newspaper Holdings Inc. (CNHI) and Raycom Media Inc., both based in Montgomery, Ala., would form one of the nation's largest privately owned media groups and leaves the future uncertain for the affected South Georgia newspapers.

"In seven cases where markets for Raycom Media broadcast stations and CNHI newspapers overlap, the newspaper properties will be sold to a third party," according to a press release announcing the merger.

WALB-TV serves the Southwest Georgia market where CNHI owns The Tifton Gazette, The Valdosta Daily Times, The Moultrie Observer and The Thomasville Times-Enterprise. WTXL-TV serves North Florida , where CNHI newspapers
The Jasper News, The Suwannee Democrat and The Mayo Free Press are located.

The CNHI corporate office did not respond to queries from the Tifton Grapevine. The merger is expected to be completed on Friday, Sept. 29.

CNHI owns more than 110 newspapers, websites and niche publications in 22 states. Raycom Media owns or operates 65 television and two radio stations covering 44 markets in 20 states. Under the merger agreement, CNHI will operate as a Raycom Media subsidiary.

CNHI has owned The Tifton Gazette since 2000 , when it purchased the paper from Thomson Newspapers . Thomson bought the Gazette from Homer Rankin in 1981 . Rankin of Tifton owned the Gazette for 29 years, beginning in 1952 . Under Rankin , the Gazette expanded its coverage. Under CNHI , the Gazette's publication schedule was reduced from a six-day-a-week daily newspaper to a three-day-a-week triweekly paper.

UGA OPENS TURFGRASS FACILITIES

Three new turfgrass research and education facilities on the Tifton, Athens and Griffin campuses were formally opened at the University of Georgia with a ribbon-cutting ceremony last Thursday.

The largest of the facilities is on the UGA Griffin campus, where the ceremony took place.

During the 2014 legislative session, Gov. Nathan Deal and the General Assembly appropriated funds for the statewide turfgrass facilities enhancement project.

"The construction of new turfgrass research and education facilities will produce tremendous benefits not only for the university community but also for the agriculture industry, which is central to the state's economy," said UGA President Jere W. Morehead.

On the UGA campus in Tifton, old facilities have been replaced with new greenhouses and a headhouse facility to support the expanding warm-season turf-breeding program. On the main UGA campus in Athens, scientists now have new greenhouses and a combination classroom and office complex to use for undergraduate teaching and research programs.

The new Turfgrass Research Building in Griffin sits close to the campus's turfgrass research plots. The building houses seven turfgrass scientists, their staff, postdoctoral research associates, visiting scientists and graduate students. The facility includes modern laboratories, offices, conference and classroom space and attached greenhouses.

UGA has 22 scientists whose primary responsibilities are related to turfgrass, and another eight faculty members who have some involvement in turf-related projects. They support the turfgrass industry by conducting research, educating industry professionals and training students who will become future industry leaders.

UGA-bred turfgrasses covers lawns, championship golf courses, urban green spaces, and Major League and Little League playing fields in Georgia, across the nation and around the world. Since 1990, the UGA Turf Team has generated close to $12 million in royalty income. Turfgrass is a $7.8 billion industry in Georgia, accounting for 87,000 jobs.

Collins will be hosting our first annual

South Georgia Wine Festival

on September 30, 2017, 1 p.m.- 6 p.m.

We invite everyone from wine connoisseurs to

those with curious palates to attend this event.

Our festival includes wine tastings from two local vineyards, Farmer's Daughter Vineyards of Pelham and Frogtown South Winery of Hahira, and

samples from the Collins bar. Additionally, appetizers will be available for purchase from

The Local of Tifton.

Also, because it's Saturday, we will play your

favorite music as we watch college football.

You may purchase your tickets on Eventbrite for

$10 or you can purchase them at the door for $15.

Your ticket includes:

*Entry to the Collins South Georgia Wine Festival

*Entry for door prizes throughout the duration of the festival

*Wine Tastings from Farmer's Daughter Vineyards and Frogtown South Winery

*Two Wine Samples from the Collins' bar

*Fruit and Cheese Pairings

*Souvenir Tasting Glass

*Most importantly, a good 'ole time with your South Georgia friends

You must be 21 or older to attend.

BEAUTY SPOTS OF THE MONTH

For the month of October, Keep Tift Beautiful is recognizing Harold and Linda Abbott at 101 28th St. W., Tifton, seen at left, as the residential "Beauty Spot of the Month."

For its commercial award, Keep Tift Beautiful is recognizing Captain D's at 1307 Highway 82 W., Tifton, as the "Beauty Spot of the Month" for October.

TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

RIBBON CUTTING

Griffin Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

505 West Seventh St.

Tifton

Sept. 21

PEANUT TOUR

VISITS PLAINS ... AND A PRESIDENT

The 39th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, spoke to visitors on the annual Georgia Peanut Tour last week during a stop at his boyhood home in Plains.

Carter, a former peanut farmer, turns 93 years old this Sunday. He served as president from 1977-81, and previously served as Georgia's governor.

TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

RIBBON CUTTING

Pediatric Dental Center of Georgia

820 Love Ave.

Tifton

Colquitt EMC presents check to Jeanne Love and students.

COLQUITT EMC GIVES GRANTS TO

TIFTAREA ACADEMY PROJECTS

Two Tiftarea Academy teachers were recently surprised when Colquitt EMC brought two jumbo $1,000 checks to surprise Jacqueline Beals and Jeanne Love. Teacher Carolyn Brown is a co-recipient with Love but was not present on the morning of the presentation.

Beals, Love and Brown had all submitted proposals for the Colquitt EMC Bright Ideas Education Grant, which provides funding for teachers to put their creative plans in action. Funding for the grants is made possible through state legislation that allows unclaimed capital credits to be used for education in communities served by EMC's.

Beals was awarded a $1,000 grant to help fund her efforts to create a literary magazine to showcase students' work, primarily from English, Spanish, art and history classes. Her' goal is to showcase the talents of students and exhibit the diversity in thought and creativity.

Love's and Brown's grant proposal focused on history lessons for the fifth grade. The grant will allow all three fifth-grade classes to enhance their learning about the Civil War and WWII through the use of historical fiction books, music from the time periods, videos and artifacts.

Colquitt EMC is a member-owned cooperative that provides electricity to more than 43,900 members with 66,000 meters in Berrien, Brooks, Colquitt, Cook, Lowndes, Tift and Worth counties.

Colquitt EMC presents check to Jacqueline Beals and some of the Tiftarea Academy students.

Saturday, September 30

10 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Fulwood Park in Tifton

Free Admission

Traditional foods, nonstop performances from The Howard Center Stage, Street Dance with Quique Fuentes from Atlanta Radio Rumba & non-stop singers from BB&T stage (south side of park); Children's Area with rides and face painting; Arts, Educational and Health Exhibits