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FEBRUARY 16, 2005
Mesa State Study Details College's Economic Impact
Grand Junction, CO - Mesa State College's recently completed impact
study, titled "Achieving a Higher Degree of Leadership in Western
Colorado," details the significance of the college's multi-million
dollar impact on the regional economy.
"The presence of Mesa State College resulted in more than
$80 million being added to western Colorado's economy during the
2003-2004 fiscal year alone," said Dr. Carol Futhey, study
co-author and vice president for academic affairs at Mesa State
College. "This study highlights the various areas in which
the college, its employees, students and visitors positively impact
the region's economic well-being."
The "Achieving a Higher Degree of Leadership in Western Colorado"
study divides Mesa State College's economic contributions into five
categories:
Employee expenditures - With more than 1,100 full- and part-time
employees, Mesa State College's payroll totaled $15.4 million after
taxes in fiscal year 2003-2004. Assuming that 90 percent of salaries
were spent regionally, Mesa State employees added $13.8 million
to the local economy through purchases of housing, clothing, food
and transportation and other consumer products.
College expenditures - In fiscal year 2003- 2004, Mesa State College
contributed more than $5.4 million to the local economy through
the purchase printing, janitorial supplies, healthcare and other
goods and services.
Capital expenditures - Over the past five years, Mesa State College
has purchased $18.8 million worth of goods and services for capital
construction projects, approximately $9.4 million of which was spent
in the local economy. This includes the labor, materials, furnishings
and other purchases associated with the construction of new buildings
and the renovation and refurbishment of existing structures.
Student expenditures - During the 2003-2004 academic year, Mesa
State students spent an average of $1,186 a month on non-tuition
expenses, including books, supplies, board, room, personal expenses
and transportation. This adds up to over $61 million, most of which
was spent within the regional economy.
Visitor expenditures - During the 2003-2004 academic year, more
than 131,000 visitors attended Mesa State College events. The college
estimates that 30 percent or 39,400 of the visitors were from outside
the region. These visitors contributed more than $3.8 million to
the regional economy due to the presence of Mesa State College.
"Mesa State College's economic impact is actually far greater
than just the direct contributions of $80 million," said Dr.
Morgan Bridge, study co-author and head of Mesa State College's
business department. "Due to the multiplier effect, Mesa State's
economic impact can be conservatively estimated to be $144 million
for the 2003-2004 year alone."
The multiplier effect indicates that any time a dollar is spent,
it will increase in value as it travels through the economy and
becomes another person's income. In the "Achieving a Higher
Degree of Leadership in Western Colorado" study, Mesa State
College used a conservative multiplier of 1.8.
Designated a regional education provider by the Colorado legislature
in 2003, Mesa State College is responsible for providing educational
services to 14 western Colorado counties-
Pitkin, Eagle, San Miguel, Summit, Routt, Ouray, Grand, Garfield,
Mesa, Jackson, Rio Blanco, Montrose, Delta and Moffat.
For a copy of the "Achieving a Higher Degree of Leadership
in Western Colorado" study, visit www.mesastate.edu/president/impactstudy/index.htm.
Interviews with Dr. Bridge will be available between 10 a.m. and
10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 17. For
more information or to schedule an interview, contact the Publicity
Coordinator at 970.248.1371.
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