INAMAX’s mission is firmly rooted in two key tenets: our Culture of Compliance and our Culture of Support. Today, we’d like to discuss the latter and how it applies even beyond our dedication to ensuring our clients succeed with coin-operated amusement machines (COAM).
These core values fuel everything that our team does, including being proud partners of the Georgia Lottery HOPE (Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally) Scholarship and Georgia’s Pre-K programs. Through this partnership, COAM operators contribute 10% of revenue back to the State Treasury’s Lottery for Education Account and do their part to set Georgia’s future leaders on the path to success.
The COAM Contribution
The Georgia Lottery Corporation (GLC) announced in an official press release on July 28, 2023, that “The [GLC] … raised $1,516,383,000 for education in fiscal year 2023, bringing the total transferred to the State Treasury’s Lottery for Education Account since inception in 1993 to more than $26.8 billion.”
Of that $1.516 billion, COAM operations contributed $133.4 million, and that number will soon increase. Thanks to the passage of House Bill 353, state contributions from COAM will increase from 10% to 13% and bring an estimated $40 million in additional funding to educational programs.
Bringing HOPE to Georgian Students
Established by Governor Zell Miller in 1993, the HOPE Scholarship program has since become one of the most successful education initiatives in the Peach State’s history. In the last three decades, more than 2.1 million students have received over $14 billion to help them pursue higher education. These funds are available across six different financial aid programs for students enrolled at eligible state public and private universities and public technical schools.
HOPE Scholarship
The HOPE Scholarship is a merit-based award available to students who have demonstrated a record of outstanding academic achievement, including a minimum 3.00 GPA in high school and maintaining a 3.00 GPA throughout their postsecondary education.
“Being a HOPE recipient made financial planning for college less stressful for me and my family. I was able to learn how to budget and reduce my student loan debt.” – Kendall Jones, University of North Georgia
HOPE Grant
With the HOPE Grant, students pursuing a certificate or diploma and maintaining a 2.00 postsecondary GPA can receive tuition assistance for up to 63 semester hours.
“Receiving this award … has made me even more goal-oriented and focused on my future career. Maybe one day, later down the road, I’ll have my own business, and this trade will be something I can share with my two sons.” – Josh McDuffie, Southern Regional Technical College
Zell Miller Scholarship
Like the HOPE Scholarship, the Zell Miller Scholarship is a merit-based program open to those with a minimum 3.70 GPA in high school, an SAT score of 1200 on the math and reading portions, or an ACT composite score of 26.
“[The Zell Miller Scholarship] has definitely taken away the stress of worrying about paying for school. I don’t have to come out of pocket for anything. It allows me to focus on school because all my finances are covered.” – Myla Williams, University of Georgia
Zell Miller Grant
For certificate and diploma programs, the Zell Miller Grant is available for up to 63 semester hours to those who can maintain a minimum GPA of 3.50 during their postsecondary program.
“The Zell Miller Grant not only gives me the peace of mind that my tuition and related fees will not be a concern but also provides even more motivation to continue to perform well academically.” – Kyle Runner, North Georgia Technical College
HOPE High School Equivalency (HSE) Examination Grant
The HOPE High School Equivalency (HSE) Examination Grant is one of the newest additions to the educational aid program, rolling out in the 2022-2023 Award Year. It provides assistance for the fees associated with taking a state-approved high school equivalency exam.
“I was able to get a GED® diploma through Adult Education even with autism. I want to encourage others with disabilities to reach for the stars … I may have bigger mountains to climb in the future, but I can look back at this and smile, knowing I have this.” – William Nichols, Georgia Northwestern Technical College
HOPE Career Grant
In an effort to prepare today’s students to work in some of the state’s most needed fields, the HOPE Career Grant provides additional funding for those pursuing a certificate or diploma from an approved program of study. Hundreds of programs are available across industries, such as industrial maintenance, commercial trucking, welding and joining technology, movie production/set design, and more.
“GNTC’s adult education classes have prepared me for college by giving me the right tool belt of knowledge. Without the help of the HOPE Grant and the HOPE Career Grant, I would have had difficulty paying for my college education.” – Harley Chastain, Georgia Northwestern Technical College
Building a Strong Educational Foundation With the Georgia Pre-K Program
Georgia Pre-K ensures that children at both ends of their educational careers get the support they need for school with kindergarten preparation programs. Because it is funded completely by the state, it ensures more equitable access to high-quality programs designed to help four-year-olds develop “skills, habits, and attitudes for becoming life-long learners.”
Legislatures have also been discussing reforming the current Pre-K program with a $100 million annual contribution funded by the Georgia Lottery. These exciting changes would prepare our children for primary school even more by reducing class sizes, raising teacher salaries, increasing the number of Pre-K programs, and contributing more to operating funds.
INAMAX Proudly Invests in Georgia’s Future
We care deeply about these programs because we believe that a strong educational system is paramount to building a better future for the state of Georgia. If you, too, would like to do your part while building a passive revenue stream, we encourage you to reach out to an INAMAX sales manager to learn more about becoming a COAM location license holder.