Key to a healthy local economy? Universities like Saint
Martin’s
March 8, 2012
LACEY,
WASHINGTON — Institutions of higher education like Saint
Martin’s University can be drivers for economic development in
Thurston County, according to Riley Moore, Ph.D., local
economist and associate professor in Saint Martin’s School of
Business.
“The presence of these institutions helps sustain a
well-educated and well-trained work force for local businesses
while increasing the general quality of life in the county,”
says Moore. He adds that, each year, Saint Martin’s University
contributes more than $57 million to the local economy.
In an upcoming episode of Around Thurston County, a
local Comcast TCTV program, Moore will be discussing the impact
of local institutions of higher learning on Thurston County’s
economy. The discussion also will highlight Saint Martin’s
long-standing relationships with institutions in China, which
date back to the 1920s. Recently, in an effort to promote
greater trade and tourism possibilities between China and the
Thurston County region, Saint Martin’s has linked Thurston
County economic development groups with organizations in China.
Around Thurston County is an in-depth discussion of topics
that affect the lives of Thurston County residents. Produced
monthly at Comcast TCTV studios in Olympia, it airs on Channel
22 every Monday at 6:30 p.m. and every Friday at 5:00 p.m. The
episode featuring Moore and Around Thurston County host Patrick
Babineau will air throughout the month of March.
For more information on Around Thurston County,
please contact Babineau at
AroundThurstonCounty@gmail.com.
Saint Martin’s University is an independent four-year,
coeducational university located on a 380-acre wooded campus in
Lacey, Washington. Established in 1895 by the Catholic Order of
Saint Benedict, the University is one of 14 Benedictine colleges
and universities in the United States and Canada, and the only
one west of the Rocky Mountains. Saint Martin’s University
prepares students for successful lives through its 21 majors and
six graduate programs spanning the liberal arts, business,
education and engineering. Saint Martin’s welcomes 1,250
students from many ethnic and religious backgrounds to its main
campus, and 650 more to its extension campuses located at Joint
Base Lewis-McChord, Everett College, Centralia College and
Tacoma Community College. Visit the Saint Martin’s University
website at www.stmartin.edu.
Sarah Holdener
Director of community relations and event management
Office of Marketing and Communications
Saint Martin’s University
sholdener@stmartin.edu