Fitz Haile of the Creative Coast recently touted the potential economic impact of Tour de Georgia on local tourism, and we share his enthusiasm.

An economic projection of the Coastal Georgia Greenway’s impact on local coastal economies revealed that the Coastal Georgia Greenway could annually

· Add $6.9 million to business revenue in 2015, rising to $15 million in 2020.
· Support 133 jobs in 2015, rising to 285 jobs in 2020.
· Generate $2.4 million in labor income in 2015, rising to $5.1 million in 2020.
· Generate $407,000 in state and local tax revenue in 2015, rising to $871,000 in 2020.
· The impact is projected to increase by 2.5% per year after 2020.
Construction expenditures of $67 million are projected to have a one-time impact that will:
· Support 1,067 jobs earning $34.4 million in labor income.
· Generate $103 million in business revenue and $2.4 million in tax revenue.
By 2025, maintenance and resurfacing expenditures of $4 million will annually:
· Support 63 jobs earning $2 million in labor income.
· Generate $6 million in business revenue and $141,000 in tax revenue.

Impressive numbers. With an impact like this, ignoring the nonquantifiable impact on quality of life (which will in turn draw more higher wage earners to the area), we can’t afford not to build the Coastal Georgia Greenway, and soon.

Posted on April 4th, 2008 by Drew Wade
Filed under: Latest News