Release Date: Tuesday, February 21, 2006

UGA's Terry College of Business brings its Economic Outlook luncheon series to Athens March 8

ATHENS, Ga. — Wondering how the local and state economies will feel the effects of Delta's bankruptcy, plant closings, soaring energy prices, military base closings and corporate restructurings?

The University of Georgia's Terry College of Business will offer its opinions on those subjects and more on Wednesday, March 8, at the Athens Area Economic Outlook luncheon.

Hosted by the Terry College and the Athens Rotary Club, the 2006 program at the Athens Country Club is expected to draw many of the Athens area's top businesspeople, civic leaders and elected officials for a detailed look at the coming year's economic prospects.

P. George Benson, dean of the Terry College, will deliver the Georgia and Athens economic forecasts. Benson holds the Simon S. Selig Jr. Chair of Economic Growth and serves as chairman of the Board of Overseers for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

The Economic Outlook luncheon program will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 pm and will include projections by the Terry College's Selig Center for Economic Growth covering employment, income, population and real estate. The analysis also will focus on the outlook for specific economic sectors, such as retailing and hospitality.

Corporate sponsors for this year's event include Athens First Bank and Trust, Burton and Burton, Wachovia, St. Mary's Health Care System, Georgia Power, Zaxby's and the Hilton Garden Inn. Media sponsors include the Athens Banner-Herald, the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce and the Athens-Clarke County Economic Development Foundation.

Registration fees are $25 per person or $200 to reserve an 8-person table. To register online, go to http://executive.terry.uga.edu/economic_outlook/athens.php. For more information, call 706-425-3051.

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