ASU's homecoming will give Albany an economic jolt - WALB.com, South Georgia News, Weather, Sports

ASU's homecoming will give Albany an economic jolt

Folks gathered at the welcome center in downtown Albany this afternoon to kick off Albany State's homecoming week with a proclamation recognizing the importance of the university to Southwest Georgia.  

"At the request of Albany State University, do hereby proclaim Saturday October 19th, 2013 as blue and gold day," Dorothy Hubbard, Mayor of Albany.  

Homecoming attracts thousands of visitors to Albany every year.  

"We're excited about homecoming weekend, homecoming weekend represents the opportunity for of our alum to come home" said Everett Freeman, President of Albany State.  

All of the visitors that will attend homecoming will spend millions of dollars while they're here.     "Half the four plus million dollars on this weekend," said event speaker.  

Hotels will be packed this weekend.  Workers at the Hilton Garden INN and Merry Acres tell us they're ready for the rush.  

"Well we have a 122 rooms a night, and most of them is going to have 2 or 3 people in the rooms, and then Thursday, Friday, Saturday we got a party, so it's already cranking up over here," said BJ Fletcher, Director of Sales, Hilton Garden Inn.  

"We are sold out and we also have four pages of people waiting to get into Merry Acres," said Sandy Gregors, Director of Sales, Merry Acres.  

President Freeman is glad that Albany State can give the city an economic jolt.  

"We just simply find a way to connect and to keep that unity of purpose going, what's the unity of purpose? To continue the development of Albany and Dougherty County and Southwest Georgia," said Freeman.  

All in an effort to keep our community prosperous and our minds educated.

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