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wbjournal.com | April 21, 2025 | Worcester Business Journal 21 Connecting people, strengthening Worcester's economy BY SANDY DUNN Special to WBJ T he results of our April economic impact study reaffirm what we and so many others have long known: the DCU Center is a powerful engine for Worcester's economy. For 43 years, the City of Worcester and the Civic Center Commission have made critical investments in the venue, aligning with our shared commitment to growth, attracting visitors, and ensuring the DCU Center remains a key driver of economic and community development. Over the past decade, the facility generated more than $204 million in direct spending, welcoming nearly 700,000 visitors in 2024 alone. While the economic impact is significant, our story extends beyond the numbers. e DCU Center is more than an arena and convention center; it's a cornerstone of Worcester's cultural identity. Each year, our venue hosts a diverse range of events, from sold-out concerts and Worcester Railers games to trade shows, meetings, and conventions. ese events create lasting experiences, connect people, and build relationships extending beyond our walls. Local restaurants and hotels benefit, as increased foot traffic boosts their business. Hotel managers highlight how out- of-town visitors extend their stay to explore Worcester's growing arts, dining, and entertainment scenes. e overall findings from the study, commissioned jointly with Digital Federal Credit Union — our naming rights partner — further highlight our shared dedication to fostering growth and supporting local businesses, ensuring our communities continue to thrive. More than 20% of visitors travel more than 50 miles to attend events at the DCU Center, contributing to the local economy. With an annual economic output averaging $46 million, our role as a tourism driver is undeniable. But our impact goes even further: We provide a stage where both local and national talent shine, a gathering place for community events, and a venue where unforgettable memories are made. While we celebrate the successes outlined in the study, we recognize the dedicated employees who are the heart and soul of the local ASM Global team. eir hard work behind the scenes ensures every event runs seamlessly, creating the exceptional experiences that keep guests returning. e venue's impact goes beyond dollars; it's seen in the connections made, the businesses supported, and the city's ongoing growth. As Worcester looks to the future, we are proud to stand at the center of it all, playing a pivotal role in enhancing the quality of life in the city and welcoming visitors to the DCU Center. Sandy Dunn is ASM Global general manager at the DCU Center in Worcester. International students are the cash customers Sandy Dunn N early every industry relies on a core customer base to help subsidize all the other customers. ese are the custom- ers who buy more of the higher-margin products so a company can continue to offer lower-margin products to the masses. In health care, for example, providers like hospi- tals rely on a mix of private-pay patients, those with private insurance, and those on government insurance. Hospitals with a higher mix of private pay and private insurance tend to be better off financially, as they are reimbursed for services at higher rates. ose with a higher mix of government insurance oen struggle; this was a main reason Heywood Healthcare in 2023 had to file for bankruptcy, which it exited last year. For higher education, international students are those core customers. College presidents and other industry officials will go on and on about how the cost of attending university is more affordable than ever, even as annual tuition rises to the stratosphere. ey say this because most students don't pay the full tuition rate; at Clark University in Worcester, 70% of first-year students receive need-based financial aid, with an average financial aid package of $44,951. e reason schools can offer this massive discount to most students is because some students pay the full tuition, which at Clark is $59,680 annually. And, by and large, the students paying near that full amount are those ineligible for federal or state aid: international students. Worcester is blessed to have three universities where international students make up a significant portion of the student body: Clark with 35%, Worcester Poly- technic Institute with 15%, and UMass Chan Medical School with 8%. It's no coincidence these schools lead innovations in the Central Mass. economy, with re- search being performed at places like WPI and UMass Chan spinning out startup companies and support industries. Unfortunately, this has made the schools vulnerable to the anti-immigrant fear campaign being run by the President Donald Trump Administration, which has seen more than 5,000 students have their visas revoked. is campaign hit home on April 10 when WPI and Clark informed their communities that 16 international students had their visas revoked. Regardless of whether the 16 students end up being deported or having their visas restored, the damage is already done, as WBJ Staff Writer Mica Kanner-Mas- colo shows in her "International loss" story on page 10. is campaign will have a cooling effect on interna- tional students' desire to study in the U.S. for years to come, if not for generations. Higher education was already struggling with college enrollment falling among U.S. students, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Even though international stu- dents make up a small portion of student bodies, their impact on the schools' business model is profound. It's hard to imagine what higher education will look like in a few years, since Trump is also threatening other sources of their federal funding. Schools like Becker College in Worcester were already falling by the wayside before all of this hit. Once the dust settles and the political moment passes, it will be good to remem- ber how important immigrants are to the fabric of our society and the value they bring to our institutions. The Worcester Business Journal welcomes letters to the editor and commentary submissions. Please send submissions to Brad Kane, editor, at bkane@wbjournal.com. W W