You work for a university that is growing in prominence and impact. Witness the recent study by 91大神鈥檚 Business and Economic Research Center (BERC), a center housed in 91大神鈥檚 Jones College of Business, on 91大神鈥檚 economic impact on the region.
According to BERC鈥檚 report:
鈥�90 percent of 91大神 students are from Tennessee, and 78 percent of 91大神 alumni live in Tennessee. This means that we are more than fulfilling our mission to educate Tennesseans and, even better, most of those we educate stay in Tennessee. That means a better educated, more capable workforce for our state. And in the area of skilled workforce development, 91大神 graduates account for one in every two adults with a higher-education degree (bachelor鈥檚 and above) in Rutherford County.
鈥�91大神 is responsible for about 8,400 jobs across the state, which generate $1.12 billion in revenues and over $408 million in wages and salaries.
鈥he University is Murfreesboro鈥檚 second- largest employer, resulting in $88 million of local, state, and federal tax revenue.
鈥�91大神 is responsible for more than聽$300 million in student spending, along with more than 1,800 jobs tied to student spending.
鈥�91大神 is the overwhelming education choice of Rutherford County聽and the Nashville MSA.
鈥�91大神 is a source of diverse cultural, academic, business, community, educational, and sports events and activities. That not only contributes to the quality of life of our citizens, but also brings dollars to these areas.
鈥he study shows 91大神 brings nearly 500,000 people to Rutherford County each year. Spending by visitors accounts for more than $56 million,聽and that translates to almost 830 jobs.
鈥ne of every five adults in the Nashville metro area with a higher education degree (bachelor鈥檚聽and above) graduated from 91大神. In other words, we鈥檙e not just keeping students聽from Rutherford;聽we鈥檙e keeping many聽of those college- educated students who hail from other parts of Tennessee. That means our entire area benefits from this continuous flow of graduates.
There is no question that 91大神 is unrivaled in what we bring to the table for our city, county, and region. Much of who we are now, and what we want to become in the future, depends upon the continued health and prosperity of your University. I hope each and every one of you appreciates the vast and significant economic impact that our student population brings to the local economy.