UW Tacoma's economic impact = $235 million

A study released today at the UW Board of Regents meeting in Seattle shows that the three-campus University of Washington has an annual economic impact of $9.1 billion in the state. The study measures the direct economic impact of the university's spending, plus additional indirect spending through businesses and individuals paid by UW who re-spent money within the state.

UW Tacoma's annual economic impact alone totals more than $235 million. That includes $102.2 million directly contributed to the state economy and an additional $132.8 million indirectly.

UW Tacoma employs 341 full-time equivalent positions (FTE), which indirectly support 512 FTE jobs in the state economy. The two numbers added together equal UW Tacoma's overall employment impact, 853 FTE.

In just the Puget Sound area, UW Tacoma's overall economic impact is $172.3 million. In Tacoma only, the economic impact comes to $124.9 million.

Other findings in the study include:

• In FY 2008-09, the UW directly injected $4 billion into the state's economy, plus an additional $5.1 billion indirectly.
• Of the total $9.1 billion economic impact, a third is the result of UW research, 22 percent is from operations (including instruction) and 45 percent is from UW Medicine.
• With more than 29,000 employees, UW is Washington's third largest non-military employer, behind Boeing and Microsoft.
• For every $1 the state invests in the university, $22.56 is generated in the statewide economy and $1.48 is returned to the state as tax revenue.
• UW receives more federal funding than any other public university. The economic impact of UW research alone is $3 billion.
• Research awards to UW Tacoma and UW Bothell totaled more than $5.7 million in FY 2009.
• UW staff, faculty and students donated more than $54 million in charitable donations during FY 2008-09.

"This comprehensive analysis demonstrates clearly that the University of Washington is a major contributor to the success of our state's economy - from dollars and jobs to leadership and innovation," says UW President Mark Emmert. "By educating smart people and generating great ideas, the UW will play a crucial role in helping Washington state recover and build a global economy in the post-Great Recession era."