Non-profit organizations generate more money in the economy than people realize, according to a report released last month by Penn State's Workforce Education and Development Initiative.

The report focused on the Pennsylvania Association for the Blind (PAB), while it analyzed non-profit organizations' effect on the economy. David Passmore, director of Penn State's College of Education Institute for Research in Training and Development (IRTD), and Rose Baker, director of the university's Center for Regional Economic and Workforce Analysis compiled the analysis.

According to the report, titled "Economic Impact of Industries Including the Pennsylvania Association for the Blind," the PAB employs 1,872 people throughout its 40 sites across Pennsylvania and is responsible for $158 million of economic output. While they were expecting to be surprised, Passmore and Baker said they were still shocked by some of the findings from the report, particularly about how much money goes through the PAB.

"People underestimate the impact of small transactions," Passmore said, referring to transactions within the PAB.

Passmore and Baker are part of the Workforce Education and Development Initiative, an alliance between the IRTD and Penn State Outreach. The analysis was done because the PAB contacted Passmore and Baker and asked them to compile the report. The PAB asked because "more service industries are being asked and required to show that they are players in the economy," Passmore said.

Anne Ard, director of the Centre County Women's Resource Center agreed, saying the government wants to know where its money is going.

"They want to know what difference are you making in the community," Ard said. "We're being asked, 'What are the outcomes of the service you provide?' "

While on a smaller scale, the Centre County Women's Resource Center still has an impact on the local economy, employing 15 full-time and eight to 10 part-time individuals, Ard said.

"It's hard to measure our economic impact," Ard said. "I think it's pretty significant."

Both Passmore and Baker noted non-profit organizations stimulate the economy by purchasing the supplies they need to help those who need their services. It's the multiplier produced by the non-profit organizations that has the biggest impact on the economy, Passmore said.

"Most people only see just a small amount of what they actually do," Baker said about the organizations.