What city could become Georgia's second major metro? (Atlanta, Columbus: movie theater, high school)

[PJA]

Originally Posted by Columbuskidd92

Must been someone from the surrounding states.

No they weren't.

[PJA]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

That's nothing to brag about; in just the past two years Chatham County has added more than 11,000 people -- more than Richmond County added in the past two decades COMBINED!

In fact, the entire 6-county Augusta MSA has only added an estimated 11,025 since 2010 -- a growth rate of 1.9%

During the same period, the 3-county Savannah MSA has added an estimated 14,330 -- a growth rate of 4.12%. Further, the 6-county Savannah CSA (an area roughly the size of Augusta's MSA) added an estimated 20,414 people between 2010-2012. By all accounts, the Savannah region is booming.



Now, what was that about "more people choosing to live in Augusta" again? The numbers prove differently, and they don't lie.

Right, the numbers don't lie...more people live in the Augusta metro than the Savannah metro.

[therealpattman]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

With all due respect to Augusta, Columbus, Macon, Athens, etc --- the expansion of the Savannah port will trump all other economic development in the state COMBINED for the next decade. Last week, the US House approved deepening of the harbor and awarded $400 million to the project. Work could begin as early as spring. What this is going to mean to the Savannah economy and the state as a whole -- especially Atlanta -- is enormous! What's happening with GHSU/GRU in Savannah and BRAC in Columbus pales into comparison to the size and impact of the port project. I'm not just speaking empty hyperbole here. It's true!

Every step in the long process to expand the port has been front page news in Atlanta. Both Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and Gov. Nathan Deal have called it the most important economic project in a generation of Georgians. It will have far-reaching implications not just in Savannah, but Metro Atlanta and the entire state. It is a game-changer that cannot be ignored.

TO QUOTE THE AJC:
The ports of Savannah and Brunswick support 100,000 metro Atlanta jobs and, according to a University of Georgia study, contribute $39 billion to the state economy.
Savannah port expansion takes key step forward as House passes... | www.ajc.com

I do agree the port project will be huge for the state however to go out and say the project will trump all others for the next decade is slightly pushing it a tad bit. In Augusta it's not just GRU, its Fort Gordon and the potential for the US Army Cyber Command to relocate to Georgia. That coupled with the already existing Signal Center of Excellence and a cooperation with GRU will make not only Augusta but the entire state more attractive in terms of cybernetics and many new and exciting industries, also keep in mind that the plant Vogtle project is in the Augusta MSA and it too is massive.

[-StarBright-]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

With all due respect to Augusta, Columbus, Macon, Athens, etc --- the expansion of the Savannah port will trump all other economic development in the state COMBINED for the next decade. Last week, the US House approved deepening of the harbor and awarded $400 million to the project. Work could begin as early as spring. What this is going to mean to the Savannah economy and the state as a whole -- especially Atlanta -- is enormous! What's happening with GHSU/GRU in Augusta and BRAC in Columbus pales incomparison to the size and impact of the port project. I'm not just speaking empty hyperbole here. It's true!

Every step in the long process to expand the port has been front page news in Atlanta. Both Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and Gov. Nathan Deal have called it the most important economic project in a generation of Georgians. It will have far-reaching implications not just in Savannah, but Metro Atlanta and the entire state. It is a game-changer that cannot be ignored.

And this is in addition to other projects specific to Savannah itself: The Outlet Mall of Georgia (opening 2015), expanded student housing for SCAD downtown, multiple new hotels and attractions in the Historic District (including 4 on River Street) and a new city sports arena.

TO QUOTE THE AJC:
The ports of Savannah and Brunswick support 100,000 metro Atlanta jobs and, according to a University of Georgia study, contribute $39 billion to the state economy.
Savannah port expansion takes key step forward as House passes... | www.ajc.com

While the project is clearly a big deal....I think you are getting a bit carried away. Savannah's port project is only expect to cost $652 million. Plant Vogtle's unit 3 and 4 will cost 14 billion. Both are expected to contribute billions to the economy. The US Army cyber center at Fort Gordon could hugely benefit the Augusta area. Augusta ranked 2nd in the nation for high tech growth from 2006-2001. With these big projects combined with all of the GRU projects going on,Savannah's projects definitely don't trump all economic development in Augusta..let alone the entire state combine within the next decade. Maybe not even within the next 5 years.

[masonbauknight]

@Norton and others: What is it about statistics that you fail to grasp? Raw numbers (i.e., 22,000 people moved to city A while 20,000 moved to city B -- thus city A is more dynamic) are not a proper yardstick. It's when a smaller population center outperforms the larger one in PERCENTAGE of growth, especially by a significant margin. Thus, Atlanta, Savannah, Columbus and Warner Robins MSAs are booming. The Augusta MSA is growing, yes, but much more modestly than ATL, SAV, COL and WR. Meanwhile, Macon's and Albany's are flat or in decline. This has been the story of Georgia metro areas for years now, and the 2010-2012 U.S Census comparisons show more of the same. Also, projections to 2030 (and beyond) are pure speculation; interesting, but not real numbers or even real reality.

[Columbuskidd92]

Well the T-splost says hello Newsboy.

[-StarBright-]

Originally Posted by masonbauknight

@Norton and others: What is it about statistics that you fail to grasp? Raw numbers (i.e., 22,000 people moved to city A while 20,000 moved to city B -- thus city A is more dynamic) are not a proper yardstick. It's when a smaller population center outperforms the larger one in PERCENTAGE of growth, especially by a significant margin. Thus, Atlanta, Savannah, Columbus and Warner Robins MSAs are booming. The Augusta MSA is growing, yes, but much more modestly than ATL, SAV, COL and WR. Meanwhile, Macon's and Albany's are flat or in decline. This has been the story of Georgia metro areas for years now, and the 2010-2012 U.S Census comparisons show more of the same. Also, projections to 2030 (and beyond) are pure speculation; interesting, but not real numbers or even real reality.

Where are your statistics to back up all of your claims?

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by -StarBright-

While the project is clearly a big deal....I think you are getting a bit carried away. Savannah's port project is only expect to cost $652 million. Plant Vogtle's unit 3 and 4 will cost 14 billion. Both are expected to contribute billions to the economy. The US Army cyber center at Fort Gordon could hugely benefit the Augusta area. Augusta ranked 2nd in the nation for high tech growth from 2006-2001. With these big projects combined with all of the GRU projects going on,Savannah's projects definitely don't trump all economic development in Augusta..let alone the entire state combine within the next decade. Maybe not even within the next 5 years.

And once again, you completely misunderstand the point, and indeed the entire economic dynamic of the port expansion! It's not the dollars that will be spent DEEPENING the Savannah harbor -- it's the massive amount of new industry, jobs and investment that will come as a result of that project. Georgia's ports at Savannah and Brunswick are the No. 2 biggest drivers of the state economy after Hartsfield-Jackson AIA. As the links I provided explain in great detail, the Port of Savannah Is responsible for HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of jobs in this state and TENS OF BILLIONS of dollars in revenue. There is simply no way to predict how much new investment will come to Georgia as a result of the port expansion, but just to give you an idea: Kia is here because of the port. Target, Home Depot, and Ikea all have their main distribution facilities in Georgia because of the port. Caterpillar is building a new plant in Athens because of the port. Georgia is already the No. 1 importer and exporter of automobiles through the port of Brunswick, and the expansion at Savannah will allow the state to leverage this capability even more -- opening up the possibility of more auto manufacturers to locate in the state.

But don't take my word for any of this! The governor, the mayor of Atlanta, Georgia's entire congressional delegation (Republicans and Democrats) all say the same thing: That the Savannah port expansion is the most vital project to the state's economy in decades. Even the President and Vice President of the United States have gone on the record in support of the Savannah port project. IT IS SIMPLY THAT HUGE!!!

Obama plugs Jacksonville, Savannah port-deepening projects on Leno | members.jacksonville.com

Mayor Reed Joins Vice President Biden For Port of Savannah Improvement Projects

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by -StarBright-

Where are your statistics to back up all of your claims?

Do you even know what the word "statistics" means? The data has been provided for you IN THIS THREAD. It's available in numerous places on the internet. The Census web site doesn't lie. In the past decade, the Savannah region grew faster than Augusta in both raw numbers and percentages. Period. And so far in this decade, it continues to grow faster -- by about a 2-1 margin.

[cdw1084]

Originally Posted by newsboy

do you even know what the word "statistics" means? The data has been provided for you. It's available in numerous places on the internet. The census web site doesn't lie. In the past decade, the savannah region grew faster than augusta. Period. And so far in this decade, it continues to grow faster -- by about a 2-1 margin.

lol!