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6 <br />industry. <br />Education and jobs are tied together. The Comprehensive Plan recognizes that “[e]ncouraging <br />communication and cooperation between businesses, educational institutions, and the public <br />sector,” is an important policy to further the City’s economic goals.” Comprehensive Plan, <br />supra, at 8-1. The Comprehensive Plan also encourages the City to “[w]ork to strengthen and <br />encourage communication and collaboration between business and institutions, such as . . . <br />Northwestern [University], and other significant hiring establishments.” Id. at 8-3. Expanding the <br />University’s presence in Arden Hills with STEM programs will help strengthen the bonds <br />between the City, the University, and private enterprise. <br />Given the tight job market for students after graduation, Northwestern must continue to stress <br />placing interns in the community. Arden Hills, in general, and this Property, in particular, <br />provide abundant internship opportunities for Northwestern’s students. Due to Arden Hills’ <br />success at incubating private business, several larger corporations have large footprints in the <br />City, including Land O’Lakes and Boston Scientific. Additionally, a medical device <br />manufacturer, a materials processing company, and a paper company, neighbor the Property. <br />These are the types of companies where Northwestern’s <br />STEM programs must place interns to develop their <br />skills and ensure they are marketable after graduation. <br />Providing a pool of young interns to these companies <br />who are learning the latest skills in their STEM <br />disciplines will also help these companies by fostering <br />innovation at these companies. These internships will <br />often lead to post-graduation employment in the <br />community, ensuring students’ long-term connection to <br />the City and job growth within the City. <br />The STEM Development will also have a more direct effect on consumption. A recent study <br />illustrates the benefit college-educated workers bring to a local economy. Jonathan Rothwell, <br />What colleges do for local economics: A Direct measure based on consumption, <br />https://www.brookings.edu/research/what-colleges-do-for-local-economies-a-direct-measure- <br />based-on-consumption/ (Nov. 17, 2015). <br />Over the course of their lifetimes, bachelor’s degree holders contribute $278,000 more to local <br />economies than non-college educated individuals. Id. College-educated students also contribute <br />more in taxes. In 2014, individuals with bachelor’s degrees contributed 155% more in state and <br />local taxes than their non-college educated counterparts. Id. In the same year, residents with <br />advanced degrees contributed over 300% more in state and local taxes than non-college educated <br />students. Id. Arden Hills already has median household incomes 12% higher than the seven- <br />[I]nternships will often lead <br />to post-graduation <br />employment in the <br />community, ensuring <br />students’ long-term <br />connection to the City and <br />job growth within the City.