Among other talking points, top Ohio University officials trekked to city hall Monday night to tell City Council members 53 percent of Athens County’s economic output is derived from university and university-related spending.
Stephen Golding, vice president for finance and administration, and Pam Benoit, executive vice president and provost, presented the university’s economic impact study to city leaders at a council meeting, and the numbers are staggering.
Golding and Benoit presented the university as an economic engine that had a $1.5 billion economic impact on the state in 2012, according to the study.
The university defined “economic impact” as “the total economic activity resulting from Ohio University and university-related spending,” according to documents provided to council members. That would include sales of goods and services by businesses to the university and its students, visitors and retirees.
The two said OU, with cutting edge research technology, is an environmental hub and partner in regional economic development.“We help to train the next talented workforce,” Benoit said.
The study also found that OU ranks fourth in terms of return on investment nationally, Benoit said, which Golding added, “helps us reinvest into the community.”
When Chris Knisely, D-at large, questioned the increase in student enrollment and the impact that would have on local housing stock, Benoit said most of those students aren’t on the main campus, adding that there is growth in the amount of online students.
Council members also expressed concern about the future of the relationship between the city and the university — especially since city and university officials are somewhat forced to interact with each other when students’ large parties seem to take over the whole city.
Mayor Paul Wiehl and Golding agreed those issues are understood and that the relationship always has room for improvement. Wiehl added that both parties need each other to function and that they do work well together.
OU has 37,000 students, including satellite branches, and employs more than 4,700 people.
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