Hartwick College made a significant economic contribution to New York state in its 2022-23 fiscal year, with a total economic impact of $107.3 million, according to a new report from the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities in New York (CICU).

“Hartwick College here in Otsego County is a big partner for the community. They employ over 100 folks,” said Sean Lewis, president and CEO of Otsego County Chamber of Commerce.

Lewis says the students at Hartwick and the staff play a vital role in the county’s economy. 

“They all do business here. They all go to the grocery stores. They eat out, they even go to our tourist attractions. Tourism is a big thing here in the county with the National Baseball Hall of Fame,” said Lewis. 

The economic impact came from two main drivers - $96.7 million spent on research, construction, instruction, technology, salaries and other operating expenses, and another $10.6 million on student and visitor impact.

Lewis says Hartwick’s community partnership has opened a lot of doors for students, helping drive that economic impact. 

“So their HeartLand program allows prospective students from all of the bordering counties to get every much of a discounted rate to attend Hartwick, that’s great,” said Lewis. 

They even have a partnership with SUNY Oneonta.

“Well, SUNY doesn’t have a nursing program, but Hartwick does. So they’ve developed this program called 'One Heart' that allows the student to literally cross the street, go to Hartwick, get that nursing degree and then they have a pipeline for employment with Bassett Healthcare Network,” said Lewis.

And it’s not just Hartwick College that’s made a large economic impact on their community. Other small colleges across the state, like St. John Fisher in Rochester, had nearly $133.6 million in statewide economic output for the 2023 fiscal year. In the Capital Region, Union College contributed $332.7 million to the Albany area’s economy from 2022 to 2023. 

“It always hits you when you see that level of impact. Small colleges, liberal arts colleges, nationally are economic engines in their communities,” said Jim Mullen, president of Hartwick College. 

He says the institution has been around for over 225 years, so they have a deep connection with the City of Oneonta. 

“I think if you go downtown any time of day, there’s a Hartwick connection," Mullen said. "Our students shop, our students take part in all sorts of activities downtown. They’re involved in the celebrations that happen year-round here. If Oneonta's doing well, we’re doing well. If we’re doing well, Oneonta's doing well.”