March 24 - Shorter College created an $84.95 million boost to the economy of northwest Georgia during the 2007 fiscal year, according to a recently released economic impact study commissioned by the Georgia Foundation for Independent Colleges. The report adds that Shorter’s economic impact, when adjusted to 2009 dollars, totaled $88.54 million. This economic impact includes an employment impact of 1,059 jobs.

The study estimated that the 26 independent colleges and universities that comprise the GFIC’s membership provide a total economic impact of more than $6.46 billion or $6.52 billion in 2009 dollars. The institutions’ activity supported more than 57,037 jobs ­ or close to one in every 70 jobs in the state, according to the report’s authors, Dr. Michael D. Curley, professor of economics emeritus at Kennesaw State University, and Dr. Roger C. Tutterow, professor of economics at Mercer University.

Of the total impact of the GFIC member institutions, $4.05 billion (65 percent) is initial spending by the institution and its students while $2.21 billion (35 percent) is in the indirect or induced spending in the regional community.