Part of Cumming City Hall to become a college classroom

DAHLONEGA - North Georgia College & State University and City of Cumming officials recently announced the inaugural location of the university’s new master of business administration degree program during the Feb. 19 Cumming City Council meeting.

The university’s first MBA classes will begin in August on the fourth floor of Cumming City Hall, located right off Georgia Highway 400 in downtown Cumming. The business program was approved last spring by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents based on a growing need in the region for a graduate-level business program.

North Georgia President David Potter addressed Cumming Mayor Ford Gravitt, council members and local citizens at the Feb. 19 city council meeting, expressing pride in the partnership between the university and the community, which he said will benefit the citizens throughout the Georgia 400 corridor.

“We are pleased to offer this program and look forward to providing additional programs in the future that benefit the workforce of our northeast Georgia region,” Potter said. “We are grateful for the support of our Cumming partners in this new venture.”

The NGCSU Foundation, Inc., signed a three-year lease agreement with the city for use of the top floor of the government building. The foundation has been working with Martin Riley Associates, the architect firm that designed the city hall, to develop the unfinished top floor into a technology-rich education environment.

In addition to having interior space that is ideal for a graduate-level academic program, Cumming City Hall is easily accessible to those living and working along the Georgia 400 corridor. The downtown Cumming location also offers ample parking and is well-lit, safe and secure, officials said.