A new study from a Sacramento think tank predicts universities like the two proposed for south Placer County could generate close to 9,400 jobs and over $1 billion in yearly economic output.

The Sacramento Regional Research Institute study puts an economic stamp of approval on projects that proponents hope to have the county sign off on within 1½ years.

Robert Fountain, Research Institute chief economist, released study findings Thursday at a county Economic Development Board-sponsored Economic Development Summit in Auburn.

Fountain said with the number of degree holders within Placer County expected to increase from 30 percent of the work force to 35 percent, the region should expect $1.1 billion more in output. Placer County’s output now is $15 billion, he noted.

“The bottom line is you may have overlooked what higher education levels will mean,” Fountain said. “This will change Placer County. This will give us the answer to the question ‘What will we do if HP moves away?’”

The two university projects – one for a private Catholic De La Salle University on undeveloped West Placer County land north of Roseville and west of Rocklin, the other for a satellite campus of California State University, Sacramento nearby – have been given “fast track” priority by the Board of Supervisors.

The two projects received a boost Thursday from the Research Institute study. The institute is a joint venture of Sacramento State and the Sacramento Area Trade Organization.

Among its findings were:

If a small university like the De La Salle project was established, it could potentially create an economic impact of over 2,000 jobs and $105 million in economic output.

The impact from a large university could reach $233 million in output and create over 4,600 jobs.

A combination of both would generate over 6,700 jobs and $338 million in economic output.

The ripple effect from a better-educated labor force with higher earning potential in Placer County would generate close to 9,400 jobs and over $1 billion in output.

Two universities could generate about $49 million annually in state and local taxes.

Developer Angelo Tsakopoulos, along with a consortium of property owners, is donating the De La Salle property but also proposing a development, contingent on the university approval, that would include 2,352 dwelling units and almost a million square feet of commercial construction.

The property is now farmland and wildland habitat – two environmental issues that could provide long-term political and legal challenges for a project that needs a general plan amendment to proceed.

Brother George Van Grieken, representing the Christian Brothers order planning De La Salle, told about 200 people attending the summit the university would be sensitive to local needs. He emphasized that 200 acres would be reserved as open space and 55 acres would be used for housing for on-campus employees.

Placer Ranch developers have set aside 245 acres of a 2,200-acre development for the CSUS campus. University President Alex Rodriguez said the biggest issue the school faces at the site would be finding housing near it for faculty.

“If we’re going to attract the best and the brightest, we need alternative housing,” he said. “As the satellite gets planned out, we need to find people who live and work in the same area. The last thing we need is faculty commuting from Sacramento.”