2008 Woodie Awards
Middletown campus offers support to regional economy
Laura Houser
Issue date: 10/23/07 Section: Campus
Middletown, Ohio may serve as the home of one of Miami University's branch campuses, but it is Miami University Middletown that is giving back to the community.
A report recently released by the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE) showed that in 2005-06, Miami Middletown contributed $36.2 million to the regional economy.
SOCHE, a consortium of 20 colleges and universities across southwestern Ohio, looked at various factors in determining economic impact, including enrollment numbers, revenues created from students moving into the area, money spent by the institution in yearly expenditures and daily operations, personnel and new construction.
Kelly Cowan, dean of Miami Middletown, pointed out this important link between campus and community.
"My personal and professional perspective is that it's absolutely vital," Cowan said. "We are a community based campus. The community brought us into existence."
According to the report, Miami Middletown spent nearly $20.8 million on daily operations in 2005-06, all of which were spent within Butler and Warren counties.
Money spent on staffing, maintenance and other utilities came to $14.9 million, and money spent by students and other visitors generated an additional $1.4 to $1.8 million for the region.
The report also said that Miami Middletown employs 358 people, resulting in a total direct and indirect creation of 459 jobs for the region. This number is the sum of all jobs created and maintained due to the university and its economic activity.
In total, there was a $16.3 million impact on household income for Butler and Warren counties, as well as $18.1 million brought in by outside sources.
Cowan said that this outside money in particular is absolutely vital to supporting Middletown's economy.
"I know Middletown would be much worse off without us," Cowan said, adding that Miami is the third largest employer in Middletown after AK Steel and Middletown Regional Hospital.
A report recently released by the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE) showed that in 2005-06, Miami Middletown contributed $36.2 million to the regional economy.
SOCHE, a consortium of 20 colleges and universities across southwestern Ohio, looked at various factors in determining economic impact, including enrollment numbers, revenues created from students moving into the area, money spent by the institution in yearly expenditures and daily operations, personnel and new construction.
Kelly Cowan, dean of Miami Middletown, pointed out this important link between campus and community.
"My personal and professional perspective is that it's absolutely vital," Cowan said. "We are a community based campus. The community brought us into existence."
According to the report, Miami Middletown spent nearly $20.8 million on daily operations in 2005-06, all of which were spent within Butler and Warren counties.
Money spent on staffing, maintenance and other utilities came to $14.9 million, and money spent by students and other visitors generated an additional $1.4 to $1.8 million for the region.
The report also said that Miami Middletown employs 358 people, resulting in a total direct and indirect creation of 459 jobs for the region. This number is the sum of all jobs created and maintained due to the university and its economic activity.
In total, there was a $16.3 million impact on household income for Butler and Warren counties, as well as $18.1 million brought in by outside sources.
Cowan said that this outside money in particular is absolutely vital to supporting Middletown's economy.
"I know Middletown would be much worse off without us," Cowan said, adding that Miami is the third largest employer in Middletown after AK Steel and Middletown Regional Hospital.
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