Economic Impact of Pittsburg State University: A Community Perspective

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Economic Impact of Pittsburg State UniversityA
Community Perspective

• Prepared by the Pittsburg Area Chamber of
  Commerce
• October 10, 2009

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• 2007-08 Economic Impact Highlights
• Fall 2007 enrollment of 7,087 students
• Students spent an average of 10,225 each
• Direct economic impact of students - 73 million
• Pittsburg State University employed 1,744
• Direct economic impact of employees (salary
  wages) - 56.5 million
• 2005 2007 PSU expended almost 37 million on
  construction and renovation projects.
• PSU has since invested almost 26 million in
  projects.
• Visitor impact Over 155,000 visitors spent an
  estimated 24.3 million
• Business Technology Institute economic
  development activities - 14.7 million
• Total direct economic impact - 190.5 million
• Total economic impact - 768.2 million
• Source Pittsburg State University Economic
  Impact Highlights 2007-08

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Impact on Local Business Is it somewhat or
highly likely that your business would not be
located in Pittsburg or Crawford County if there
were no Pittsburg State University?

• Pitt Plastics 519
• Pitsco - 202
• NPC, International 300
• Family Resource Center - 45
• University Bank - 31
• Morning Sun 30
• Chatters/Fat Daddys - 30
• Kansas Teachers Community Credit Union 20
• Zouire - 13
• Jocks Nitch Sporting Goods - 10
• Pinamonti Orthodontics - 10
• Lindburg Pharmacy - 10
• Coldwell Banker-Jim Bishop Realty 8
• Lorees Bridal Formal - 5
• Re/Max University Realty 4
• Mariner Wealth Advisors 3
• Number of jobs 1,240

Source Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce
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• Quotes from business leaders
• If I had not attended Pitt State I would have
  never settled in Pittsburg. I started NPC, Pitt
  Plastics, Natl Mills, Zouire, Oil business, and
  had a hand in the old Holiday Inn, Mariner, and
  other businesses. The economic impact on this
  community is directly related to this
  University.
• Gene Bicknell
• Pitsco would not be in Pittsburg, nor would it
  exist had it not been for
• 1. my coming here for a Masters degree
• 2. learning a great deal in the School of
  Technology, particularly from my major advisor
  Dr. F.V. Sullivan
• 3. meeting and working with two other PSU
  graduates who taught in the Pittsburg SchoolsMr.
  Max Lundquest and Mr. Terry Salmans.
• PSU has been a great source for us employees
  and otherwise.
• Harvey Dean
• I cannot imagine Pittsburg without Pittsburg
  State and, since they are synonymous to me, I
  never put that question to thought.  I think
  that, over time, the presence of the university
  gave has given Pittsburg an edge over neighboring
  communities and enabled the city to become the
  hub of southeast Kansas.  Without PSU, the
  community would be too small for me to locate an
  orthodontic office.
• Gina Pinamonti, DDS
• The Kansas Teachers Community Credit Union was
  originally chartered to only serve the teachers
  and family members of Pitt State. The credit
  union has evolved since 1949 into a community
  credit union, with the ability to serve all area
  residents. However, a large part of our
  membership and directors continue to come from
  the Pitt State community.
• Mark Kolarik
• Source Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce

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• Those that may be here, but on a smaller scale
• Mt. Carmel Regional Medical Center-Decreased
  services-Fewer supporting doctors
• Names Numbers
• Millers Professional Imaging/Mpix
• Rons Supermarket
• Eagle Beverage
• Pinamonti Physical Therapy
• Source Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce

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• Pittsburg State University has been a strong
  positive influence to Miller's in several ways.
  First, it brought in numerous clients when
  Miller's was still a studio. However, PSU's
  greatest influence on Miller's Professional
  Imaging has been its student work force. Many of
  them have worked with us during their enrollment
  and continued their career with us after
  graduation. In fact, when we decided to build
  another location, we wanted to duplicate the
  business environment that we have in Pittsburg,
  This is why Columbia, Missouri, a Midwestern town
  with several universities, was chosen. 
• We cannot imagine what our labor profile would be
  without PSU. We may have had to move from
  Pittsburg without it.
• Dick Coleman
• Without PSU our business would be completely
  different.  If we didn't have the faculty and
  students in town to shop it would be much more
  difficult to offer all the departments we do.  We
  wouldn't have a cafe, salad bar, and our
  Bakery/Deli would have to be downsized.  Those
  departments require lots of foot traffic to
  support them.  Second we need a quality staff to
  manage those departments.  Without the option of
  hiring PSU students we would struggle to offer
  the service we feel those departments demand.
• Drew Rhodes

Source Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce
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• In my opinion, likely others that either wouldnt
  be here or would be on a smaller scale
• The Home Depot
• Chilis
• Starbucks
• Applebees
• Second locations for McDonalds, Subway
• Most hotels

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• Universitys Effect on the Local Workforce
• 204 local employers utilized Gorillas4Hire
  (Career Services online job search engine free
  to students) as a free classified ad throughout
  the 2009 fiscal year. From those postings,
  approximately 315 PSU students were hired.
• Through another program, PSU partners with local
  businesses and provides 50 of qualified
  students wages. In FY2009 over 20,000 in wages
  were covered by this program.
• The Career Services office also provided free
  assistance to more than 100 alumni and community
  members looking for resume and cover letter help
  and job search assistance or career counseling.
• Approximately 80 of PSU students are employed
• Source Pittsburg State University Career
  Services Office

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• Culture/Arts
• PALS Performing Arts Lecture Series
• 2009 - 2010 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
• September 21, 2009 - Meeting David Wilson
• November 20, 2009 - Dinner Theater "Citizen
  Candy Kane"
• February 6, 2010 - The Blanks (aka Ted's Band
  from "Scrubs")
• March 5, 2010 - PSU Jazz Festival Concert feat.
  John Fedchock New York Big Band
• April 22, 2010 - The Most Trusted Stranger in
  America Frank Warren's PostSecret
• Women In Government Lecture Series
• Kathleen Kennedy Townsend
• Helen Thomas 
• Gene DeGruson Memorial Lectures
• Brandenburg Lecture Series Medallion
• 2003 H. Lee Scott, former CEO and president of
  Wal-Mart
• 2004 Former Governor of Kansas Bill Graves
• 2008 John Lowe, ConocoPhillips executive 

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• Volunteer Effect
• Organizations
• Pittsburg Area Young Professionals
• Pittsburg Noon Rotary Club
• Pittsburg Sunrise Rotary Club
• Pittsburg Noon Kiwanis Club
• Pittsburg Sunflower Kiwanis Club
• Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce
• Colonial Fox Theatre Foundation
• Family Resource Center
• YMCA
• Highway 69 Association
• 2006 Public Safety Center Bond Issue
• Pittsburg NOW

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• International Diversity
• about 40 countries represented in PSU
  international student population
• about 500 international students enrolled
• about 40 international faculty from about 20
  countries
• 6-7 different cultural events are presented each
  year on campus or in the community
• international students make numerous cultural
  presentations in area schools and community
  organizations
• many international students serve as translators
  for area businesses and institutions (i.e. Mt.
  Carmel Regional Medical Center)
• Chinese Culture Club gives weekly Chinese
  language lessons for free
• Study Abroad
• We send about 100 students out each year to 15-20
  countries
• They bring back an international perspective and
  an ability to engage different cultures as they
  enter the workforce.
• Source Pittsburg State University International
  Affairs Office

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• International Events
• Spring Food and Culture Fair
• Fall Taste and Sounds of Nation
• Diwali Festival by the Indian Student Association
  
• Moon Festival by the Chinese Student Association
• Chinese New Year Celebration
• Korean Culture Day
• Eid (end of Ramadan) by the Saudi Student
  Association in the fall
• Source Pittsburg State University International
  Affairs Office

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• Education
• In the 2009 fiscal year, 60 students were placed
  in area elementary and junior high schools as
  tutors at no cost to those institutions. The cost
  of those tutors providing over 10,500 hours of
  tutoring to local youth, totaled more than
  70,000 and was covered 100 by PSU.
• Local teachers receive all licensure hours from
  PSU. Without the university, teachers would be
  forced to travel further for training. Advanced
  degrees would be difficult.
• Sources Pittsburg State University Career
  Services Office, USD 250

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• Additional thoughts
• Vendor Effect
• National Guard Armory
• City Services
• Parks
• Police/Fire Protection
• Utilities
• Infrastructure
• Public Transit

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Projected Percent Population Change for Kansas by
County 2000-2030
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• Sustainability
• From the curriculum, to recycling, to
  procurement, to storm water runoff, to the use of
  pesticides, to solid waste disposal, to
  university vehicles, to the construction of new
  facilities, weve got to take a more responsible
  approach to what we do.
• Dr. Steve Scott,
• PSU President
• Sources Pittsburg State University

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• Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce
• 117 West Fourth Street
• Pittsburg, KS 66762
• www.PittsburgAreaChamber.com