Our stable economy has a lot to do with our many opportunities for higher education, but just how big of an impact does it have on our community? 
$23 million dollars brought into the Abilene community each month in large part because of our technical and junior colleges, as well as our private and public Universities.
Abilene's higher education institutions also provide jobs for nearly $2,000 employees. And every $1 spent by higher education contributes $1.37 to our local economy.
"Seeing the impact of the institutions, it's a large number and you know you have some sense that the higher education sector impacts Abilene. This quantifies it and puts a number behind it. Both in jobs and in dollars," Dr. Monty Lynn of Abilene Christian University said.
A combined study from the Chamber of Commerce and various education leaders demonstrates the signifigance of higher education in our community.
"A healthy city has to have a strong magnet and strong glue and universities serve both of those purposes. The magnet is what pulls people into a city...The glue is what keeps people there after they've been pulled in," Dr. Gary McCaleb, Vice President of Abilene Christian University said.
For Abilene's size, we're very fortunate to have 8 seperate higher education institutions.
This study was the first, but certainly not the last to gather the impact that higher education has in Abilene.
"Good decisions, especially under uncertain times, which we are under as a nation and as a world today are made when you have the best information. And better yet when you have the best knowledge," Mike McMahan, President of the Chamber of Commerce said.
$23 million dollars brought into the Abilene community each month in large part because of our technical and junior colleges, as well as our private and public Universities.
Abilene's higher education institutions also provide jobs for nearly $2,000 employees. And every $1 spent by higher education contributes $1.37 to our local economy.
"Seeing the impact of the institutions, it's a large number and you know you have some sense that the higher education sector impacts Abilene. This quantifies it and puts a number behind it. Both in jobs and in dollars," Dr. Monty Lynn of Abilene Christian University said.
A combined study from the Chamber of Commerce and various education leaders demonstrates the signifigance of higher education in our community.
"A healthy city has to have a strong magnet and strong glue and universities serve both of those purposes. The magnet is what pulls people into a city...The glue is what keeps people there after they've been pulled in," Dr. Gary McCaleb, Vice President of Abilene Christian University said.
For Abilene's size, we're very fortunate to have 8 seperate higher education institutions.
This study was the first, but certainly not the last to gather the impact that higher education has in Abilene.
"Good decisions, especially under uncertain times, which we are under as a nation and as a world today are made when you have the best information. And better yet when you have the best knowledge," Mike McMahan, President of the Chamber of Commerce said.
