Spring Break
Students accelerate Eau Claire economy
Consumer spending, employment key factors in students' impact
Alexa Blatz
Issue date: 10/3/05 Section: Money
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Yet, business owners and economics professors agree students also contribute a great deal to the economy.
Wayne Carroll, professor of economics at UW-Eau Claire, said the influence of students on Eau Claire's economy is substantial.
"Students have a significant positive impact on boosting the local economy," Carroll said, adding there is a lot of local spending by students.
The population also provides potential employees for various retail establishments, he said.
"Students supply a large amount of labor to the labor market," said Edward Young, professor of economics. "There are a lot of mini malls around Eau Claire. Without students, it would be hard finding employees to work there."
Eau Claire would be a much different place economically without students, Young said.
Students who work off campus agree Eau Claire is a different place when students are not around to spend money.
Sophomore Jessica Kircher, who is employed both by Sears, in Oakwood Mall, and Red Lobster, 1019 W. Clairemont Ave., said, "I worked at Red Lobster during the summer and it definitely started picking up once school started."
She said she also notices large groups of people from the dorms go there to celebrate birthdays, giving Red Lobster a lot student patrons.
"It may be because of the location. It's easy for students to walk over here from the dorms," Kircher said. "Sears is a different story, not many college students shop there for clothes, but it seems to be busier than usual on the weekends."
Kircher said she is more careful about her spending habits, and only spends money on necessities such as food and gas. The rest of her money goes into savings for studying abroad next spring.
Sophomore Jessica Hedlund has worked at Hollister, in Oakwood Mall, for two years. She said she also notices a change when students are in town.