December 2006

EMCs Have Big Impact

Georgia Tech study shows EMCs as big contributors to state's economy

Georgia Electric Membership Corporation (GEMC) has released the results of a study showing the state’s EMC have a $6.1 billion impact on Georgia’s economy.

GEMC is the statewide trade organization that represents Walton and 41 other Georgia EMCs.

Georgia Tech’s Economic Development and Technology Ventures conducted the analysis. Tech’s economists note that the EMCs presence “has a ripple effect throughout the state that is immediate and lasting.

”When calculating the total impact, Tech considers direct, indirect and induced spending activity created by the EMC presence. The study finds that for every job at an EMC, four jobs are created in supporting industries and in the community.

“It’s impossible to put a dollar value on the thousands of hours of volunteer time donated every year by Walton EMC employees to local charities, civic clubs, community service and youth activities,” said Walton EMC CEO Ronnie Lee. “Tech did not capture the value of these projects, but it’s considerable.”

The study used data from 2004. Tech drew its conclusions using local, state and nationally recognized input/output models for economic impacts.

By the Numbers

Some of the figures from the Georgia Tech economic impact study of Georgia's EMCs:

• $6 Billion - Total economic impact of EMCs to Georgia
• $500 Million - Amount invested to upgrade and maintain EMCs' electric facilities
• $153 Million - Taxes paid to local governments by Georgia's EMCs
• $132 Million - Amount of revenue generated to state government by Georgia's EMCs
• 25, 272 - Jobs Georgia's EMCs support
• 5,668 - People employed in EMCs' core business
• 4 - Jobs created for every job at a local EMC

<back>