 "Photo: Alex Blackwelder")
Try to define the word economy, and you might have a difficult time.
Intriguingly, the archaic definition of the word, according to the Merriam-Webster's dictionary, is the management of household or private affairs and especially expenses. Its significance comes from the Greek words "ìoikos" and "nemein," which mean "house" and "to manage."
However, when one thinks of the economy, he or she may think of more national or global implications, not single households.
One could consider Murfreesboro as the household and MTSU as the maternal figure. The university nurtures and encourages economic growth in the household of Rutherford County in ways that most may not realize.
Murfreesboro is a completely different town in the summertime. MTSU seems to contribute certain energy and excitement to this town that is somewhat lost when many students pack up and go home for breaks from school.
One student points out that while many leave, there are many students who stay.
"Although a large portion of students do go home for summer and winter breaks, there are also a great deal who stay in Murfreesboro year round," says Daniel Essenpreis, an MTSU alumnus EMC major. "The businesses may take a small hit, but for the most part I donít think that it is a drastic one."
Indeed, even when school is not in session, MTSU affiliates still play an active part in the local economy.
The university is second on the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerceís list of Murfreesboroís largest employers with over 2,000 employees as of February 2007. In addition to regular employees, there are currently around 2,100 student hourly employees working at MTSU, as well as about 400 graduate assistants and 70 resident assistants.
Along with education, students are fortunate to have access to all kinds of jobs at their fingertips.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Rutherford County led the nation in job growth in 2005. There were an estimated 120,718 full-time and part-time jobs in the county. Since 2000, employment has increased 19.4 percent in the county compared to 5.7 percent increase statewide and 6.6 percent in the U.S.
In 2006, Rutherford Countyís average rate of unemployment was 3.9 percent, with a 5.1 percent average in Tennessee and 4.6 percent national average. The unemployment rates were significantly higher for the summer months, peaking at 4.5 percent.
Many MTSU students are employed, not only by MTSU, but in the community, as well.
Kathy Musselman, assistant vice president of MTSUís Human Resources Department, says she doesnít think the local economy regulates in the same way when students go home for breaks from school.
"I would think that when 20,000 plus students leave the Murfreesboro area to go home for the summer that it would have to affect the sales at the mall and local restaurants," Musselman says. "How could it not?"
The effects of MTSU are not limited to the students themselves, however. Brian Breece, general manager of Puléoís Grille on NW Broad Street, notes that business is "absolutely affected by MTSU," but most customers are not actually college students.
"In terms of day-to-day business, we donít see lots of MTSU students in the restaurant," Breece says. "We get more business from MTSU professors as well as visitors passing through town for MTSU events such as football games. The employee base is the main thing we get from the students population. Nearly all of our employees are students."
Murat Arik, associate director for MTSUís Business and Economic Research Center, says that from 2005-2006, MTSU provided more than an estimated $800 million to local economic impact. Of this, student expenditures totaled about $221 million.
"The presence of MTSU and its facilities, such as the library, Murphy Center, Tennessee Miller Coliseum, Campus Recreation Center and Tennessee Livestock Center provide significant, intangible benefits to the local residents who enjoy year-long activities," Arik says. "Furthermore, other intangible benefits, or benefits that are hard to put a price tag on, include numerous community outreach activities and partnerships with local K-12 school systems and businesses."
The BERC conducts research and provides information to support the College of Business faculty and students as well as the business community. It works with the local government and private organizations on research projects that make university and faculty resources available to the community.
With partnerships like this, it is no wonder that Rutherford County is currently the fastest growing county in Tennessee. In 2006, Murfreesboro made CNN Money Magazine's "100 Best Places to Live" in the nation.
Holly Sears Weber, Rutherford County Chamber of Commerceís vice president of economic development, conveys just what a driving force for the economy MTSU is.
"Having the largest undergraduate university in Tennessee in our community gives us a great resource for research and available labor for a variety of jobs," Weber says. "Often times, a company will focus in on Rutherford County due to the university and the renewable resource of available labor."
MTSU, along with the Chamber, has also been a catalyst for a new organization, Mind2Marketplace. M2M is an organization dedicated to help with job creation. It was formed to help establish an aggressive strategic connection between people or organizations with marketable ideas and the final marketplace.
Weber points out that these partnerships are "just a very small part of what the university brings to our community."
Arik points out that this town would undoubtedly be a different place without the university.
"MTSU's athletic, recreational, cultural and academic facilities and programs contribute to the regionís quality of life significantly," Arik says.
For more on Murfreesboro's economy, visit www.rutherfordchamber.org.
Be the first to comment on this article!