UT Dallas Hosts Business and Economic Development Leaders at Inaugural Economic Development Summit
Economic Development - The University of Texas at Dallas
The UT Dallas Office of Facilities & Economic Development welcomed industry and economic development leaders to its inaugural Economic Development Summit November 7 at the Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center. Dr. Calvin D. Jamison, vice president for facilities & economic development, hosted the program.
As UT Dallas celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, one of the key initiatives of the University’s Strategic Plan is to become “an economic engine for the region.” The goal of the Summit was to introduce the University’s new economic development initiatives, define UT Dallas’ economic impact on the region, and encourage businesses and economic developers to develop partnerships with the University.
Robert Kaplan, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, provided a State of the Economy keynote address to guests.
Dr. Richard Benson, president of UT Dallas and Eugene McDermott Distinguished University Chair of Leadership, provided a “State of the University” address with highlights from a recent report on UT Dallas’ economic impact on the region. These included:
- In Richardson, UT Dallas has impacted the city with an annual increase in business activities and economic impact of $490 million and 8,200 jobs.
- For the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan statistical area (MSA [Metropolitan Statistical Area] ), the total annual increase is $1.2 billion and 18,000 jobs.
- Annual expected spinoff from research at UT Dallas results in $180 million and 1,600 jobs in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington MSA [Metropolitan Statistical Area] and $240 million and 2,100 jobs in the State of Texas.
- Annual revenue and jobs generated by UT Dallas graduates is $16 billion and 150,000 jobs in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington MSA [Metropolitan Statistical Area] and $23 billion and 210,000 jobs in the State of Texas.
Source: The Perryman Group
The Summit also provided guests with the opportunity to discuss in roundtable groups their organizations’ needs and how UT Dallas can help meet them. Roundtable discussions were led by Dr. Hasan Pirkul, dean of the Naveen Jindal School of Management, and Dr. Joseph Pancrazio, vice president for research.
The Office of Facilities & Economic Development will continue its outreach with industry and economic development leaders through the creation of an advisory committee that will work to expand the University’s reach within the community. The Office will also host the Economic Development Summit annually to continue to engage with and encourage the North Texas community to develop meaningful partnerships with the University.