"We won't get swallowed up in the big Atlanta area, but (be able to) take advantage of what they have," Kit Dunlap said Wednesday. "But, we can have a separate (identity) and can get noticed separately."
Dunlap said the designation did not come as a surprise because of the population growth in the area that was reflected in the 2000 Census.
Valdosta, Brunswick, Dalton, Hinesville and Rome were also declared urban centers, bringing the state's total number of MSAs to 15.
Federal officials also have added eight counties to the area that is considered to be the metro Atlanta region. Dawson County is the only addition from northeast Georgia. The remaining counties are Butts, Haralson, Heard, Jasper, Lamar, Meriwether and Pike counties.
The 28-county metro area had a population of 4.5 (m) million people in 2002.
The designation makes the six areas eligible for federal entitlement funds beginning in October 2004.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2003/6/177648