Forsyth Herald, October 15, 2014

Page 1

Education Focus Sponsored section ►►PAGE 21

Traffic woes Stuck in traffic? A bond offers solutions ►►PAGE 4

The Place

Big art at Big Canoe

Find out who’s retiring at the end of this month ►►PAGE 6

Art show runs through Nov. 2 ►►PAGE 11

October 15, 2014 | forsythherald.com | 73,500 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 17, No. 41

Forsyth surfaces as engine of state’s economic growth

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Center QR code in white space so that the black edges of the code overlap the blue crop marks

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The new-look ForsythHerald.com went live Thursday, Oct. 9.

New look, same great content ForsythHerald.com gets sleeker design You’ve got to see the new website for the Forsyth Herald. Well, in fact, we’ve redesigned all four of Appen Media Group’s newspaper websites, and it’s all because we want you — our readers — to have a web experience that’s easy, flawless and complete. That’s why our new site is faster, mobile and tablet friendly and less cluttered on a desktop view or your favorite handheld device. There’s also a feature that allows our readers to submit their news and photos directly

ALDO NAHED

Managing Editor aldo@ appenmediagroup.com

to us. This marks a new chapter in our news organization’s 31year history. Our new site allows us to include dozens more photos per article, sleek galleries and comprehensive ways to interact, share and com-

ment. The look and feel of the new site is easy to follow with a slide gallery at the top of the page, followed by news headlines and lead paragraphs of what we’ve covered in the weeklies. With our intuitive search feature, users can quickly find what they’re looking for, whether it’s classified ads, obituaries or information on the area. The previous website started out as a rudimental site in the early 90s and served as an online copy of Appen Media Group’s publications. Visit us today at www. forsythherald.com.

By PAT FOX news@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – Forsyth County was not immune to the economic downturn that swept the nation six years ago. Business activity slowed, property values fell by as much as 25 percent and unemployment topped 8 percent. The county slid into the recession poised to become metro Atlanta’s latest economic and residential darling. Its population was swelling – up 78 percent since 2000 – and businesses were growing. Then the shoe dropped with a thud that echoed for more than four years. Few communities in Georgia have rebounded with their zest still intact and their prospects as rosy as Forsyth County. With its population now pushing 200,000, the county is moving beyond its traditional reputation as a bedroom community for the Atlanta workforce. “The numbers are growing at a rate that surpasses what our initial forecast would be,” said Randall Toussaint, vice president of economic development for the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce. “This year, we’ve worked on almost 20 economic development projects, companies that are moving to the area that we recruited, or companies that are here in the community and are growing and expanding.”

Fast stats • Poverty rate: 6.6 %, lowest in the state. (Georgia: 19.2 %) • Unwed births: 18.8%, second lowest in the state. (Georgia: 45.1 %) • Average SAT score: 1580, first among public school systems. (Georgia average: 1452) • Annual population growth rate: 3.18 % (Georgia: 0.9 %; U.S.: 0.75 %) Collectively, those projects are expected to generate more than 600 new jobs and about $100 million in new capital investment – and the year’s not over. The county’s fastest growing industry sector is health care. The establishment of Northside Hospital-Forsyth in 2002 and its subsequent expansions, has triggered a boom that has trickled through the entire health care sector, Toussaint said. The county has seen expansions of other groups, such as Kaiser Permanente and St. Joseph’s Hospital after it merged with Emory. Northside opened a Women’s Center in 2008, bringing maternity and newborn services closer to home. Soon

See GROWTH, Page 8

Go West at Home. The UWG Roadshow: October 21, 7-9pm, Windermere Golf Club in Cumming


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