College towns are different. An interconnected partnership between the community and the college is a rising tide that lifts all boats. Something good for the college, is good for the community and vice versa. As a significant and positive presence in the Golden Isles and beyond, the work of the College of Coastal Georgia delivers practical outcomes for the community at large. The community is better because the College is here.
The College of Coastal Georgia impacts the Golden Isles in many ways. Perhaps most resoundingly in four primary areas. First is economic impact. Within the past five years, the College has contributed more than $500 million to the local economy. New jobs and economic growth are natural outcomes from partnerships with local businesses and organizations.
Second, through workforce development, the College provides skilled, educated individuals to join local companies and drive expansion. More than 80 percent of graduates remain on the coast to add to the ever-expanding prosperity of the region.
Health care is a third area beneficially impacted by the College of Coastal Georgia. The College’s nationally ranked nursing program and its partnership with the Southeast Georgia Health System helps fill a critical demand for healthcare providers and often helps ensure that many nursing students are prepared here stay here. The College’s presence means that the local quality and accessibility of services continues to climb.
Education and teacher preparation is a fourth key area of the College’s beneficial community impact. Alumni enter the workforce and teach at local schools. Many graduates are state-recognized teachers inspiring the next generation to reach its full potential and help maintain a vibrant local economy.
Through its partnerships, including the work of the Art and Lindee Lucas Center for Entrepreneurship, Coastal Georgia reaches beyond the campus to influence the growth, stamina, and leadership of the community. The active campus serves as an important reminder that the vitality of the College directly impacts the local economy and the community’s quality of life along the coast.
More than 20 majors and degrees are offered at Coastal Georgia – attracting more than 3,300 students each year. Whether living on campus, commuting, or joining Coastal online, students are given the opportunity to learn from a stellar faculty in a beautiful coastal setting. Students quickly conclude that college is better by the beach.
The Hospitality and Tourism Management program and the Culinary Arts program are prime examples of the College addressing the needs of the community. In tourism and across the employment spectrum, it is imperative that highly trained personnel are ready to hit the ground running. The commitment of the College to Tourism is testament to the close partnership between the College and the community. Environmental Science is another degree major that speaks directly to the coastal region. The delicate ecosystem of marshlands, rivers, and ocean must be carefully monitored. Graduates with this degree help keep Coastal Georgia flourishing.
The College of Coastal Georgia is more than an academic institution. It is a proving ground for emerging business leaders, entrepreneurs, healthcare workers, educators, and tourism professionals. The College adds to the well-being of the coast as graduates move from campus to community. They are ready to make a difference for their employers and, indeed, for the world.
The College welcomes support from everyone who believes in its mission and who appreciates its significant role in the area’s quality of life. Joining the Navigator Society is a meaningful way to increase the College’s success in educating and training the future workforce and, in turn, chart the course toward an even stronger community.
Please consider becoming a Navigator today. Learn more at ccga.edu/navigator or email advancement@ccga.edu.
