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Executives, employees and local shareholders from Danimer Scientific gave approximately $771,000 to Memorial Hospital and Manor through the Georgia HEART Rural Hospital Tax Credit Program in 2021. Memorial Hospital and Manor has been serving Decatur County and the southwest Georgia community for the past 62 years, providing quality healthcare close to home for its local residents.

Danimer Scientific, Inc. (NYSE: DNMR), is a leading next-generation bioplastics company focused on the development and production of biodegradable materials. Michael Smith, Chief Operating Officer of Danimer, said, “As a growing company looking to attract top candidates to work at our new and existing facilities in Decatur County, being able to say that we have access to critical healthcare right here in our community is essential. Our team and others in the community know that directing these dollars to MHM allows them to invest in making Decatur County a safe place to live and work.”

Georgia’s rural hospitals have been facing a financial crisis for years due to demographic, economic, and industry challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed a whole new set of unique challenges on the state’s rural hospitals. The Georgia HEART Hospital Program administers the Rural Hospital Tax Credit, which was enacted by the Georgia General Assembly in 2016 to increase rural hospital funding and to further the hospitals’ ability to care for the thousands of Georgians who live in the communities they serve.

CEO Jim Lambert states, “The support that Danimer and the community gave us in 2021 was unprecedented. We are fortunate to have community partners who understand the value of our hospital and what it means for economic development. When recruiting industry to our area it is important that we have a strong and viable hospital. We are thankful for all that the Danimer affiliates have done and continue to do for our community and MHM.”

Senator Dean Burke stated, “The Rural Hospital Tax Credit program has allowed directed donations of your state tax dollars to your local rural hospital, without the middleman of state government. These funds are critical to allow rural hospitals to invest in their people, and the facility. The pandemic has shown us how critical local facilities are to taking care of our citizens. This can’t be accomplished without investment of critical resources by everyone involved.” Through HEART, Georgia taxpayers can make contributions in exchange for a 100% state income tax credit, up to specified limits, to qualified rural hospitals of their choice. “C” Corporations and Pass-Through Entity business owners who participate may also qualify for an additional federal business expense deduction. Essentially, individuals and business have the unique opportunity to pay their state income taxes – an expenditure they are required to make anyway – through contributing to rural hospitals.