Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University students, faculty and staff spent an estimated $178.8 million in the Bowling Green-Warren County area last year, according to preliminary findings from a survey conducted by WKU economics and marketing departments.

For the 2005-06 academic year, WKU students had direct off-campus expenditures of $124.4 million while faculty and staff off-campus expenditures were $54.4 million.

“When the $95 million that WKU itself spends in our local economy is added, the University has an annual impact of about $275 million,” President Gary Ransdell said. “When combined with census data that shows a five-year increase of nearly 3,500 bachelor’s degree holders in Warren County, these figures make a powerful statement about WKU’s importance to the economy of our region.”

A more detailed report on WKU’s secondary impact on the region’s economy should be completed by October, according to Dr. Bill Davis, associate professor of economics. The economic impact survey was a collaborative effort by Dr. Davis and Dr Jerry Gotlieb, associate professor of marketing.

In the 2005-06 academic year, students spent:

• $31 million on off-campus food or $3.4 million per month.
• $29 million living off-campus and more than $9.5 million on utilities.
• $19 million on entertainment, hobbies and recreation.
• $9 million on clothing.
• $9 million on gasoline.
• $4 million on electronics.
• $1.76 million on charitable contributions (not including in-kind contributions or volunteer work).

The report also showed that student off-campus employment adds about 7,076 full-time equivalents jobs in the area and contributes up to $920,000 in occupational taxes to the city of Bowling Green.

Highlights of the findings show that in 2005-06, faculty and staff spent:

• $10.3 million on off-campus food.
• $4.5 million on charitable contributions (not including in-kind contributions or volunteer work).
• $1.4 million in property taxes.

The survey also showed that faculty and staff members’ out-of-town visitors contributed $2.3 million to $4.7 million to the area economy.

More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.

For information, contact Bill Davis at (270) 745-3123.

(NOTE: The preliminary report is attached as a pdf file.)

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