Courtesy of Walker Structural Engineering.
Alan Brandt
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Klamath Community College pumped $80.8 million into the local and regional economy during the 2023-24 school year, according to a recent independent study.
The Lightcast analysis group found that KCC’s operations added $23.5 million to the local economy. Student spending contributed another $2.2 million, and alumni who stayed in the Basin to work brought in $55 million.
The $80 million supports 1,233 jobs in the region. One out of every 28 jobs in KCC’s service district is supported by the college and its students, the report said.
“Klamath Community College is successful in providing students careers where they can earn a decent living,” KCC President Dr. Roberto Gutierrez said.
The average graduate earns $7,700 more annually with a KCC certificate or degree than someone with only a high school diploma. Gutierrez said the college offers programs designed to build the local economy.
“Not because it is profitable, but because it is the right thing to do for our community,” Gutierrez said.
Randy Cox, executive director of Klamath County Economic Development Association, said KCC prepares the county for economic opportunity. By building a skilled talent pipeline, the college helps remove one of the biggest barriers businesses face when deciding whether to expand, invest or locate in the community, Cox said.
Klamath County Commissioner Derrick DeGroot said the college is helping drive economic momentum by responding quickly to workforce needs. KCC is putting people to work in healthcare, building trades and specialized manufacturing training, DeGroot said.
The college employed 468 full-time and part-time faculty and staff in 2023-24. Payroll totaled $19.7 million, much of which was spent in the region on groceries, mortgages, rent payments, dining out and other household expenses, according to the Lightcast report.
KCC spent another $15.9 million on expenses related to facilities, supplies and professional services. As students earn more, they will make greater tax payments throughout their working careers, which translates to a $24.4 million benefit to government coffers.
The report said students receive a great return for their investments in an education from the college. The benefits created by the college and its students recover a significant portion of the costs paid by taxpayers and create a wide range of social benefits throughout Oregon.