Economic Impact Study Estimates $237.3 Million in Benefits for Ohio From Utopia Pipeline

KENT, Ohio - Aug. 25, 2016 - PRLog -- Dr. Shawn Rohlin, associate professor of economics at Kent State University's College of Business Administration, concluded through a recent economic impact study that a proposed pipeline project could bring an estimated $237.3 million to Ohio's economy.

According to Rohlin and colleague Dr. Nadia Greenhalgh-Stanley, associate professor of economics in the College of Business Administration, who collaborated on the study, the projected impact would occur during the first five years of the pipeline. The impact study on the Utopia East Pipeline Project, proposed by Kinder Morgan, Inc., will transport ethane and ethane-propane blends through 215 miles of pipeline and 14 Ohio counties where it will connect with existing Kinder Morgan facilities, ending in Windsor, Ontario. According to Rohlin, Ohio businesses will also benefit greatly from reduced input costs due to its large manufacturing base and proximity to Ontario.

"This project will produce direct and indirect economic benefits to Ohio, and plays an important role in keeping Ohio's business community thriving while growing jobs in the state," said Rohlin. "The new pipeline will help meet increased demand for energy originating from Ohio's Utica shale region, while also supporting a large workforce and high volume of economic activity that will generate positive impacts to communities along the pipeline route."

The study, available for download at http://utopiapipeline.com, outlines how the Utopia East Pipeline will:

●        generate $4.9 million in tax revenues,

●        create 2,132 direct and indirect jobs in Ohio,

●        contribute $144.9 million to Ohio's gross state product and

●       provide $87.5 million uplift to the Ohio economy through additional income and spending.

"Ohio's Utica shale production is driving energy industry growth, creating thousands of good jobs, powering U.S. economic growth and helping to make our nation more energy independent," said Allen Fore, vice president of public affairs for Kinder Morgan. "Overall, many communities and landowners along the pipeline route are positive and welcoming of the clear benefits this project will bring to their local economy, the state of Ohio and ultimately, the Great Lakes region."

Rohlin is an associate professor of economics and the director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation at Kent State University. His research focuses on the effect of government policies on firm establishment and employment decisions. His work has been published in journals such as Review of Economics and Statistics, Journal of Law and Economics, Journal of Urban Economics and Economic Inquiry. Rohlin also calculates the economic impact of many events throughout the region and nation. He has produced studies on the economic impact of the Mid-American Conference Basketball Tournament, the Gay Games, the Senior Games and the Akron Marathon.

In addition to participating in economic impact studies, Greenhalgh-Stanley's research and teaching interests include Urban Economics, Public Economics, Health Economics and Microeconomics. Her research mainly focuses on housing and portfolio decisions of the elderly in relation with changes in Medicaid, Medicare and long-term care insurance.

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Kent State University's College of Business Administration is fully accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB) and one of the largest colleges of business in Ohio.  The College has more than 4,300 students representing 50 countries with over 106 full-time faculty from 16 countries.

The college grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, and is one of only three public business colleges in Ohio with a comprehensive Ph.D. program.  The MBA program is offered with nine concentrations and five dual degree options. The Executive MBA program offer two tracks: one targeting corporate professionals and the other healthcare executives.  The M.S. in Accounting, M.S. in Business Analytics and M.A. in Economics are specialized master's degrees for those seeking advanced study in these disciplines.  The college boasts nine undergraduate majors, 12 minors and a Professional Sales Certificate program.

The college is listed as a Best Business School by Princeton Review, ranked as a Best Business College by U.S. News and World Report, one of only 23 accounting programs worldwide to be endorsed by the IMA (Institute of Management Accountants), ranked Top-Tier for Executive Education in North America by CEO Magazine and ranked fourth by the SEF (Sales Education Foundation) in Ohio for providing Professional Sales Education.

The college boasts an onsite Career Services Office and International Programs Office dedicated to business students, and operates the Global Management Center, the Center for Information Systems and the Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation all propelling scholarly research, establishing innovative industry partnerships and providing outreach to Northeast Ohio and beyond.

Media Contacts:
Joni Bowen, Public Relations and Media Specialist, (330) 672-1279, jbowen1@kent.edu

Michelle Parrish Manning, Director of Marketing Communications, (330) 672-2717, mparris3@kent.edu