Study: SunTrust Park, The Battery bringing nearly $19M in improvements for Cobb

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — The Atlanta Braves and everything they brought with them is responsible for nearly $19 million in improvements for Cobb government, neighbors and schools.

That is according to a new study released Tuesday looking at the fiscal impact of SunTrust Park and The Battery Atlanta development on Cobb County.

Channel 2 investigative reporter Nicole Carr went through pages of the study, which leaders discussed Tuesday during a chamber meeting.

"This proves if you do it right and you stay committed to it, you can very quickly get some incredible results," said Mike Plant, the president and CEO of development for the Braves.

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In the independent study conducted by Georgia Tech researchers, local leaders wanted to see how much money is being pumped into the area.

Researchers compared SunTrust Park and The Battery to the revenue power of a tourist city like Savannah, thanks to its year-round appeal.

The study also shows the development has paved the way for quick transit solutions and brought in money to folks who may not have expected it.

For Cobb County Schools, it meant increasing employee raises by 1.5 percent and providing teachers with a 1.1 percent holiday bonus.

"We didn't know this study was being done or what the numbers would be. When they came out, it kind of connected the dots, 'OK, here's where the new revenue came from.' So putting it into teachers is what we're going to do," said Cobb superintendent Chris Ragsdale.

Cox Media Group