Bastyr University reports that the results from a new study show that the economic impact the school has on the local community was more than $136 million in 2010.

“As the university fulfills its mission in educating future leaders in the natural health arts and sciences, it also serves as a significant economic engine for our Kenmore community, King County and Washington state,” said Bastyr University President Daniel K. Church. “We are proud that Bastyr University, which began over 30 years ago as a fledgling professional school with about 30 students, has experienced the type of growth reported in this important study.”

The University Economic Impact Study, conducted by Hebert Research of Bellevue, and presented to Kenmore City Councilmembers Oct. 10, found that Bastyr University infused dollars into the local economy in a number of ways, including:

• The economic activity associated with the university’s operations

• The economic activity associated with investment projects

• The economic activity created by the university’s teaching clinic

• The spending by students who would not otherwise live in the area were it not for Bastyr University

• The economic activity generated by local alumni

“Whether it’s money spent at local businesses by our students, faculty and staff members, creating jobs through on-campus construction projects or seeing our alumni rent commercial property and hire staff for their own businesses, to know Bastyr University is playing a role in keeping the King County economy moving in a positive direction is tremendously satisfying,” President Church added.