Grand Valley State University is reporting an annual economic impact on the region of $849 million.
The economic impact report covers Kent, Ottawa and Muskegon counties, and it looked at data from 2016-2017. The university employs more than 3,600 people and enrolls more than 25,000 students who spend money and pay taxes in the area.
Other highlights from the report include:
- New construction and renovations added more than $109 million to the local economy in 2017. This created more than 2,200 jobs.
- A $20 million addition to the Thomas J. and Marcia J. Haas Center for Performing Arts was completed.
- Construction will start in June for a $70 million health building in downtown Grand Rapids. It will be next to GVSU's Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences. The building is scheduled to finish in May 2021.
- Nearly half of GVSU's 117,000 alumni are living or working in the West Michigan area.
The full economic impact report can be seen here.
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