ATLANTA — The early child care and education industry in Georgia generates $4.7 billion in economic activity annually while creating more than 67,000 jobs statewide, according to a recently released study.

State officials plan to hold two public policy forums this week highlighting the results of the study. Georgia’s Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) commissioned the University of Georgia and Georgia State University last year to study the impact of the child care industry on the economy of Georgia.

The advocacy group Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education will join UGA, GSU and DECAL to present results from the study today at the Georgia Railroad Freight Depot in Atlanta, and Friday at the University of Georgia in Athens.

All of Georgia’s approximately 6,000 licensed and regulated child care providers were asked to complete a survey in the fall of 2014. UGA developed and distributed the survey and compiled the data. GSU then analyzed the data which formed the basis for the final report.

Read more at AJC.com