The Medical College of Georgia is a valuable local resource with an important statewide mission: improving health through highly integrated programs in education, research, and clinical care.

Meeting the state's health needs, however, would not be possible without the support of the city MCG has called home for the better part of two centuries.

When the Medical College of Georgia was founded in Augusta in 1828, the institution's faculty of four taught classes in two borrowed rooms of Augusta's first City Hospital.

THE PARTNERSHIP that began 180 years ago continues today as evidenced by last week's unanimous vote by the Augusta Commission to provide the University System of Georgia Board of Regents with $10 million to purchase the Gilbert Manor property from the Augusta Housing Authority, allowing MCG to expand significantly in Augusta.

Over the past five years, MCG's enrollment has increased nearly 20 percent. Aggressive expansion plans, particularly in MCG's schools of dentistry and medicine, will continue that growth trend. MCG's students -- this fall more than 2,400 -- learn alongside health professionals in private offices, clinics, and hospitals in 112 Georgia counties.

GRADUATES OF MCG'S academic programs practice in nearly every county in the state. Georgia is clearly MCG's campus; but Augusta is MCG's home. That's why it is imperative to build MCG's base in Augusta -- since it is from this city that MCG leads the effort to address critical health workforce shortages across the state.

On the 15-acre Gilbert Manor property, MCG plans to construct a new facility to house its School of Dentistry, the only dental school in Georgia, which will accommodate a planned increase in MCG's dental class size -- from 62 entering students a year to 100.

The state of Georgia, in a strong show of support of MCG and Augusta, has committed $75 million to partially underwrite the significant cost of this project. Planning also is underway for expansion of School of Medicine facilities at the site and an Education Commons to be shared by MCG's dental and medical schools.

All told, this is more than $200 million in capital improvements in our community, a 20-to-1 return on the city's $10 million investment.

Beyond these very tangible benefits, the partnership between MCG and the city also has led to improved housing for the former residents of Gilbert Manor, a public housing project constructed nearly 70 years ago.

THE COST OF rehabbing Gilbert Manor far exceeded the cost of building a new facility. We recognize the personal challenges presented by the transition of this property to MCG and are very appreciative of the sacrifices made by the Gilbert Manor community. More than $6 million of the purchase price of the property will be used by the Augusta Housing Authority to continue to develop improved affordable housing for Augusta residents in need of assistance.

If Augusta is going to fully realize its vast potential and serve as a model for other cities in this nation, we have to stand shoulder-to-shoulder and work collaboratively for the greater good of our community. We have to be brave enough to build lasting partnerships that leverage the strengths of all and allow us to achieve shared success in sometimes unconventional ways.

THIS INVESTMENT in MCG's future is also an investment in Augusta's future -- and an investment in the future of every citizen who calls Georgia home.