We’re excited to launch our blog and reconnect with those of you who have worked with (or for) us in the past! And welcome to those of you who are here out of curiosity about what we do. We’re glad you’re here!
For our first blog post, I thought it might be fun to do a little “BBER by the Numbers” introduction (since numbers are our specialty).
BBER by the Numbers
- 56—The number of years that the BBER has been in existence. The department first began in 1964 with the sole purpose of publishing the Duluth Business Index (DBI), a monthly publication that tracked fifteen economic indicators related to Duluth’s economy.
- $10,000—The amount of money appropriated by the state legislature to the University of Minnesota Duluth in 1970, establishing the BBER as an official entity at UMD. At that time, the BBER was tasked with the continuation of the DBI along with other extensive research projects.
- 120—The number (at least!) of undergraduate research assistants the BBER has employed since 1970. Some of our former students are now employed at Google, Amazon, Boston Scientific, IBM, Bank of America, and UMD. One student employee currently serves on the University of Minnesota’s Board of Regents!
- 5—The number of directors that the BBER has had in its history (Dr. Jerrold Peterson, Dr. Donald Steiness, Dr. Richard Lichty, James Skurla, and me. I started in 2014).
- 11—The number of BBER students who have presented on the health of the Duluth-Superior regional economy at the bi-annual Regional Economic Indicators Forum, an event held each spring and fall at the DECC that typically draws an audience of 250+ guests.
- 25—Where the Duluth-Superior metro area ranks in terms of health insurance rates (94% of residents were insured in 2018)—a measure that was included in the BBER’s 2018 Analysis of Duluth-Superior and Peer Metropolitan Areas. The study compared 381 metro areas on 24 indicators related to economic and social well-being.
- 839—The number of Lake Superior and Mississippi railroad passengers surveyed as part of the BBER’s 2018 study, The Economic Impact of the Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad. The study estimated that the scenic railroad contributed $1.3 million in output to Duluth’s economy.
We look forward to sharing more with you in the coming weeks and months. Posts will even be from some of our current and former students.
Photo: BBER Director Monica Haynes; Students who have presented at the REIF: Nathan Brand, Hattie Ecklund, and Alexander Hook; and BBER Editor/Writer Gina Grensing