Since July 2000, UC Merced has contributed approximately $650 million to the San Joaquin Valley economy, the university announced this week.

UC Merced has paid more than $417 million in local wages and compensation, awarded $109 million in construction contracts to local businesses, and purchased $122 million in goods and services from local suppliers. Nearly $100 million of that contribution occurred in the last year alone.

When factoring in indirect impacts, the university calculates its impact at $230 million in the 2009-2010 year alone.

Statewide, UC Merced’s economic contribution has tallied $1.225 million.