According To An Economic Impact Study By The Lightcast Firm, Community Colleges Across Southwest Virginia Added 560-Million Dollars Of Income To The Regional Economy. Additionally, They Support Over 84-Hundred Regional Jobs, Employ About 15-Hundred Full-Time And Part-Time Faculty And Staff With A Payroll Of Over 61-Million Dollars. The Study Involved Mountain Empire, New River, Southwest Virginia, Highlands And Wytheville Community Colleges.