Using a “conservative methodology,” an independent economic analysis affirms what UNE officials have long said about their positive contribution to the city
By RANDY SEAVER | Editor
During the ongoing debate and controversy surrounding a proposed research pier on the Saco River, officials from the University of New England and many of the school’s supporters have long said that the university is a major economic driver for the city of Biddeford.
RELATED | “Biddeford needs economic engines like UNE”
Now, those claims are backed up by an independent economic analysis that concludes UNE generates more than $53 million in direct economic impact into Biddeford’s economy each year.
The independent study, conducted by FXM Associates, evaluated UNE’s economic impact by using “a deliberately conservative methodology that excluded indirect and induced multiplier effects commonly used in economic impact studies.”
According to the analysis of the July 2026 report, UNE directly impacts Biddeford’s economy through employee payroll, local purchasing, student spending and visitor spending.
“UNE has long been proud to call Biddeford home,” said James Herbert, the university’s president. “This independent study confirms what many people throughout southern Maine already know: the University is an essential economic partner, a major employer, and an institution that contributes every day to the vitality of Biddeford and the surrounding region.”
Among the report’s findings:
$53.6 million in direct annual economic activity generated in Biddeford.
More than $3 million annually in direct municipal revenue through property taxes and revenue sharing.
More than 925 employees work on UNE’s Biddeford campus.
245 Biddeford residents are employed by UNE, receiving more than $10.7 million annually in salaries and benefits.
Students spend an estimated $37.4 million annually at local restaurants, retailers, housing providers and other businesses.
Visitors attending university events contribute nearly $2 million annually to the local economy.
UNE supports more than 180 documented community initiatives in Biddeford, including healthcare services, public transit, food assistance, educational partnerships and volunteer programs.
“The figures presented in this report represent a conservative baseline,” the report concludes, noting that it deliberately reports only direct economic effects to provide a careful and credible assessment of UNE’s contribution.
School officials say that the independent economic analysis complements a public opinion survey completed earlier this year by Emerson College Polling and Consensus Strategies.
RELATED | UNE touts opinion poll results
That April 2026 poll showed 81 percent of Biddeford residents have a favorable opinion of the school, rating UNE’s reputation as excellent or good.
“The university and the city have grown together for decades,” Herbert said. “Our students, faculty, professional staff, alumni, healthcare providers, researchers, and volunteers are woven into the fabric of this community.
“We remain committed to being not only an outstanding university, but also an outstanding neighbor.”
“The university and the city
— James Hebert, UNE president
have grown together for decades”
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