RECENT STUDY: UNA IMPACTS SHOALS ECONOMY BY $161M
December 4, 2008
FLORENCE, Ala. — The University of North Alabama and its students, faculty and staff impact the Shoals area economy annually with about $161,007,441 in direct and indirect spending, according to a recent study conducted by the university’s Center for Public Policy and Economic Research (COPPER).
“This is a significant study for both UNA and the community,” said Dr. William G. Cale, UNA president. “It reflects the university’s contributions to the economic strength of this area on several fronts, such as employment, spending and tax revenue. This community is vital to UNA, and so it’s important to us that the university benefit this area in the ways that it does.”
The COPPER research team includes Dr. Doug Barrett, chair of the Department of Economics and Finance; Dr. Jim Couch, professor of economics; Dr. Keith Malone, assistant professor of economics; and Dr. Pete Williams, professor of economics.
The research team conducted the study using UNA records as well as surveys conducted among university faculty, staff and students. The study analyzes UNA’s local economic impact in the following categories:
- Indirect employment and earnings effects of employee and student spending
- Total spending, employment and earnings impact
- Local tax revenue generated by UNA students and employees
- How UNA students and employees impact local financial institutions
- How international students impact the local economy
“A study such as this helps citizens to see that a state institution like UNA really is a state investment. It does generate revenue for our local economies,” Barrett said. “Any time we have an economic downturn, it can be easy to become cynical about government spending, but this helps us to see that we’re getting something back.”
The economic impact study may be viewed in its entirety at www.una.edu/impactstudy.
