New study puts economic impact at more than $1 billon a year

East Carolina University generates an economic impact in Pitt County of nearly $1.4 billion a year, according to a new study by the university.

That total includes direct and indirect effects of the university’s annual budget of $370 million and student spending of more than $90 million a year. The new study was conducted by the Regional Development Institute for expenditures during the 1999-2000 academic year.

A similar study five years ago placed the university’s annual impact at $818 million. Al Delia, associate vice chancellor for economic and community development, said the new study understates the total impact of the university because it does not include all spending by visitors to the university for educational, athletic and cultural activities.

Neither does it include spending by visitors to the Brody School of Medicine, Delia said. Delia said that enrollment growth planned at the university in the next decade will significantly amplify its economic output. An additional 9,000 students, called for in university plans, will mean 350-400 new faculty positions and an equal number of staff positions.

The university currently has about 18,000 students and close to 4,000 employees. In addition to students and employees, campus planners are anticipating adding as much as 3 million square feet of new facilities, at a cost of more that $800 million.