Location: Bowdoin / Treasurer's Office / Economic Impact

Economic Impact

BrunswickFor over 200 years, Bowdoin College's cultural, educational, and economic contributions to Brunswick, Greater Midcoast Region, and the State of Maine have been important drivers of stable employment and investment in local businesses. The College has also made—and continues to make—significant financial contributions to local non-profits and municipalities.

This year, Bowdoin is the 22nd largest private employer in Maine. The College has contributed $39.1 million in salaries to Brunswick area residents, more than $16.3 million in purchases from Maine vendors (of which $2.79 million were spent in Brunswick), and attracted thousands of visitors to the Midcoast area.

The collection of data below may be used as a reference to document Bowdoin's ongoing economic impact and contributions.  Download a PDF of this information.

Employment

Total Employment

  • 195 Faculty  (Full Time Equivalent)
  • 309 Administrators (Full Time Equivalent) 
  • 347 Support Staff (Full Time Equivalent) 
  • 875 Total Employees 

(As of October 2011; not including vacancies) (Source: Bowdoin College Human Resources) 

Largest Employers in Brunswick

500 – 1000 employees 

  •   Radiology Specialists of Maine 
  •   Bowdoin College 
  •   Mid Coast Hospital 

250 – 499 employees 

  • Parkview Adventist Medical Center
  • LL Bean Manufacturing
  • Wal-Mart
  • Bisson Moving & Storage  

(as of June 2011) (not including Brunswick Naval Air Station) (Source: Maine Dept. of Labor) 

Employment Rank

  • 22nd Largest Private Employer in Maine 

(as of June 2011) (Source: Maine Dept of  Labor, Center for Workforce Research) 

Bowdoin College Total Payroll

  • $52.2 Million 

(Year Ending June 30, 2011) (Source: Bowdoin College Controller’s Office) 

Salaries Paid to Area Residents*

  • $39.1 Million 

(Year Ending June 30, 2011) * includes Bath, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Brunswick, Freeport, Georgetown, Harpswell, Phippsburg, Topsham,  and West Bath. 

Salaries Paid to Brunswick Residents

  • $27.5 Million

(Year Ending June 30, 2011) 

Taxes and Fees

Ten Largest Tax Payers in Brunswick

  1. Bath Iron Works 
  2. Developers Diversified Cooks Corner LP 
  3. FPL Energy Maine Hydro LLC 
  4. Wal-Mart Stores 
  5. W/S Brunswick Properties LP 
  6. Thornton Oaks Homeowners Assn Corp
  7. Affordable Midcoast Housing, LLC
  8. LHC Brunswick Maine LLC (Lowes) 
  9. Bowdoin College 
  10. Central Maine Power Company 

(Year Ending June 30, 2011) (Source: Town of Brunswick Tax Accessor)   

Property Taxes Paid

$182,793 

(Year Ending June 30, 2011) 

Fees Paid to the Town of Brunswick

  • $9,071 Tipping Fees (Refuse, dump fees) 
  • $308    Vehicle Licensing and Other Fees 
  • $875    License and Permit Fees 
  • $4,264 Fire/Police/Rescue Details, Alarms & Related Fees 

Total Fees: $14,618

(Year Ending June 30, 2011) 

State Sales and Use Tax Collected by Bowdoin College

$129,054 

(Year Ending June 30, 2011) 

State Income Taxes Collected by Bowdoin College

$2.88 Million  

(Year Ending June 30, 2011)  

Voluntary and Charitable Contributions

Unrestricted Contribution to the Town of Brunswick

$110,000 

(Year Ending June 30, 2011)  

Other Bowdoin College Charitable Contributions

$18,450

(Year Ending June 30, 2011)    

Annual Value of Common Good Grant

$16,650 donated to 10 local non-profits 

(Year Ending June 30, 2011) 

Community Service and Volunteerism

Number of Maine Students Receiving Need-Based Aid

144

(Fall Semester 2011) (Source: Bowdoin College Office of Student Aid)  

Amount Bowdoin Employees Contributed to United Way and Maine Share

$131,094

(2010 Campaign - amount donated calendar year 2011) (Source: Bowdoin College Treasurer’s Office) 

Estimated Number of Volunteer Positions Filled by Bowdoin College Students

2,019 Service Positions (Several positions may be filled by a single student)

(Academic Year 10-11) (Source:  Bowdoin College McKeen Center for the Common Good) 

Estimated Total Number of Volunteer Hours Contributed by Bowdoin College Students

49,128 Total Hours of Service  

(Academic Year 10-11) (Source:  Bowdoin College McKeen Center for the Common Good)  

Estimated Number of Volunteer Hours Contributed by Bowdoin College Students to individuals and organizations in Maine

38,248 Hours

(Academic Year 10-11) (Source:  Bowdoin College McKeen Center for the Common Good)

Estimated Value of Total Volunteer Hours Contributed to Maine Service Agencies by Bowdoin College Students

$573,720 (38,248 Hours x $15 per hour) 

(Academic Year 10-11) (Source:  Bowdoin College Treasurer’s Office) 

Estimated Number of Bowdoin College Students Who Volunteer in the Greater Brunswick Area to Tutor or Mentor Kids

189 Students volunteering to provide 7,389 hours of tutoring/mentoring services 

(Academic Year 10-11) (Source:  Bowdoin College McKeen Center for the Common Good) 

Value of Institutional Grant Funds Received by Maine Students

 $5.16 Million (18.4% of institutional grant spending) 

(Fall Semester 2011) (Source: Bowdoin College Office of Student Aid)  

Value of Food Donated to the Midcoast Hunger Prevention Program

$6,413

(Academic Year 10-11) (Source:  Bowdoin College Dining Services)  

Amount of Money Donated to Local Non-Profit Organizations in the Greater Brunswick Area Generated by Sales at the 2011 Give and Go Sale

$52,460

(Sale of Student Donations to Help Local Non-Profits) (Source:  Bowdoin College Treasurer’s Office)

Estimated Value of Furniture and Equipment Donated to Local Charities in the Greater Brunswick Area

$16,650

(Year Ending June 30, 2011) (Source:  Bowdoin College Treasurer’s Office)

Number of Enrolled Students from Maine

208 (11.7% of 1,778 Students) 

(Fall Semester 2011) (Source:Bowdoin College Institutional Research)  

Number of Public Events Open to the General Public

1,300 

(Lectures, Concerts, Performances, Etc) (Source:  Bowdoin College Office of Events and Summer Programs) 

Miscellaneous

Goods and Services Purchased by Bowdoin College from Brunswick Vendors

$2.79 Million 

(Not including payments to the Town of Brunswick) (Year Ending June 30, 2011) (Source:  Bowdoin College Treasurer’s Office)

Number of Prospective Students Who Visited Campus

6,661 Students 

(Year Ending June 30, 2011) (Source: Admissions Office) (Does not include siblings or parents) 

Estimated Annual Number of Visitors to Midcoast Maine for Select Bowdoin Ceremonies and Events

  • Baccalaureate: 2,000 
  • Commencement: 3,400  
  • Homecoming and Reunion Weekends: 2,600  
  • Parents Weekend: 1,682

 (Source: Bowdoin College Office of Events and Summer Programs)  

Amount Spent by Bowdoin College on Honoraria to Bring Acclaimed Lecturers/Performers to Campus

 $354,216

 (Majority Open to the General Public Free of Charge) (Year Ending June 30, 2011) (Source: Bowdoin College Treasurer’s Office) 

Goods and Services Purchased by Bowdoin College from Maine Vendors

$16.3  Million 

(Year Ending June 30, 2011) (Source: Bowdoin College Treasurer’s Office) 

Goods and Services Purchased by Bowdoin College from Area Vendors*

$4.18 Million 

(Year Ending June 30, 2011) (including Brunswick Vendors) (Source: Bowdoin College Treasurer’s Office) 
*Includes vendors located in Bath, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Brunswick, Freeport, Georgetown, Harpswell, Phippsburg, Topsham and West Bath. 

Estimated Annual Amount of Money Spent Locally by Bowdoin Students

$1.78 Million 

(Assumes 1,778 students spending $500 per semester) (Source: Bowdoin College Treasurer’s Office)