Students have returned to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point today for the first day of the spring 2007 semester. By the end of this year, our nearly 9,000 students will have spent almost $78 million annually in the region according to the just-released 37-page report, "University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point - Economic Contribution to the Region," prepared by Dennis Winters of NorthStar Economics, Inc. of Madison.

"UWSP is realizing the vision of those who worked hard back in the 1890s to bring first a normal school, those who followed later to make it a state college, and today a university. UWSP is at the core of Central Wisconsin�s higher education outreach and destined to be a major contributor to economic development," said UWSP Chancellor Linda Bunnell. "UWSP is part of the very fabric of the community and the greater region. Its students and workforce are vital to the communities and businesses of Portage, Marathon and Wood counties and all of Central Wisconsin. We�re here to stay and we will do our part to meet the needs of the region and the state."

The report was conducted by Winters, vice president and director of research for NorthStar Economics, Inc. NorthStar Economics is a private economic consulting and research firm dedicated to the development and implementation of New Economy economic development strategies.

The purpose of the report is to quantify the monetary contribution UWSP makes to the regional economy, primarily Portage, Wood and Marathon counties. NorthStar�s report quantifies the total economic contribution the campus makes to the region by collecting data, analyzing spending patterns, and applying multiplier coefficients and calculating the final fiscal effects.

Key report findings include:

"This report reminds us how important continued growth in participation in all of our higher education institutions is to Central Wisconsin. UWSP and its sister colleges as well as area technical colleges are fortunate to enjoy the excellent private and public sector backing throughout the region and for that we are grateful," said Bunnell. "We hope that support will encourage Governor Doyle to continue his investment in the University of Wisconsin in his upcoming budget."

The report demonstrates the strong connection between higher education and the historical economic growth and success of the state�s economy.

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