ALLENDALE, Mich. -- Grand Valley State University leaders say they are e pleased with the findings of their annual economic impact study.
GVSU President Philomena Mantella announced the results at an economic forum on Thursday morning.
She told WOOD Radio in a telephone interview it is the most thorough report on the economic effects of GVSU in a decade. It shows the university's annual impact is $3 billion a year, with 116,000 jobs sustained and $7.8 billion in annual alumni wages.
"The growth of Grand Valley in both the regional enrollment that is here, and the program relevance have really accelerated that number. Both of those factors are true," Mantella said.
Grand Valley State Associate Dean Dr. Paul Isely compiled the report. He is an economist in the GVSU Seidman College of Business.
Mantella tells WOOD Radio the study also analyzed investments in the university in terms of state allocations.
"And how that translates into income generated for Michigan. And those results show a 31-to-1 investment, which is far beyond what can be viewed in economic-impact reports from other institutions," she said.
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