You can hear the excitement in Angela White's voice.

"We are just thrilled and hope they'll call us home for many years," she said.

The Coweta County Visitors Bureau director was reacting to Wednesday's announcement that Newnan and Coweta County have been chosen as as the new home of the Miss Georgia USA and Miss Georgia Teen USA pageants and will host the events this fall.

For many years, the pageants were held in Rome, but the popularity of the event caused the pageant's directors to seek a new home.

"It was simply a matter of outgrowing the facility. If all the seats are full, there's not a whole lot you can do," she said.

In making the announcement, Kim Greenwood, executive director of Greenwood Productions, said Coweta County's enthusiasm and facilities made the decision easy.

"It usually takes several weeks to make such a decision, but we have been able to do this during our 24-hour visit," she said.

The event will be held at the Centre for the Performing and Visual Arts in Newnan.

"The Centre is tremendous. It is both functional and beautiful; in fact, it is one of the most beautiful theaters I have seen," Greenwood said.

White is still busy crunching the numbers, but expects a large economic impact from the events.

"There's probably going to be 175 girls involved in the pageants and we've already got word that one hotel is already filled up," she said.

The 2006 Miss Georgia USA and Miss Georgia Teen USA event begins Oct. 31 with the arrival of technical and support operations. The contestants arrive Nov. 3 with the finals on Nov. 5.