Connect with Montana Tech – School plays a large role in Butte’s economic development.

Montana Tech launched an effort last night to keep the city better informed about what the campus has to offer. About 100 people attended the event.

By Gerard O’Brien, Montana Standard Editor

http://www.mtstandard.com/articles/2004/01/31/newsopinion_top/hjjfjigjjagihf.txt

If you haven’t visited the campus lately, you should.

Tech plays a large role in Butte’s economic development.

Tech has 334 full-time employees and 106 part-time employees and a total salary payout of $11.1 million.

In addition, according to 2002 financial figures, the indirect economic impact from faculty, staff and students is $24.8 million, for such things as housing, transportation, retail trade and services.

Then there’s all the supplies that Tech purchases locally to operate the campus.

And, that money does not include revenue generated at sporting events.

Finally, if you consider that for each dollar spent,

65 cents of additional revenue is generated, the total brings you to a whopping $59 million impact for our community.

Students do venture off the hill and contribute to the town in the form of eating at local restaurants, paying rent, buying goods and doing community service work, such as volunteering for Big Brothers and Sisters.

Tech offers SEVERAL important items to the Mining City.

First and foremost, Tech is the gateway to higher education for the community.

It is a vibrant campus that is rapidly changing to meet the demands of its students.

The old standbys of mining and petroleum engineering are being interwoven with more liberal arts courses, medical arts and nursing.

Tech is opening doors to a much more varied student body — non-traditional students — another great benefit to this community. And, year after year, its job placement for grads is at 90 percent or better.

Don’t forget the Bureau of Mines, chemistry and biology departments, research and technical outreach programs for fledgling businesses, geophysical studies and mine waste reclamation. All of these specific sciences lay the groundwork for a strong university. The campus sports one of the best and underutilized libraries in town, as well.

And, to keep up with everything, it has the only Starbucks coffee shop in town.

Tech is also leading the way in public/private partnerships by joining with St. James Healthcare to fill a need in the medical community. Its College of Technology is bringing new students to town and giving those who live here greater opportunities at job training.

Tech is also looking at so-called "education clusters" to anticipate what the business community needs and quickly turn the ship in that direction.

On the quality of life side, Tech is the gateway to Butte’s backyard if you will. There is plenty of recreation, entertainment and sporting events for the town to enjoy — from Oredigger sports to use of the HPER complex for events, workouts and swimming.

And lots of folks like to stroll along the renovated walking trail that skirts the campus and takes you to the World Museum of Mining.

Events on campus, such as the Society of Petroleum Engineers Christmas bazaar, ski swap, amateur theater or the annual gem and mineral show draw hundreds of people.

All this will contribute to a more vibrant college and a closer ties to the Butte community.

Watch for more open houses on campus and set aside some time to explore this important institution in Butte.