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At that economic outlook seminar in Bozeman on Wednesday, Montana State's Tom McCoy talked about how the university may have helped the struggling construction industry during some of its darkest days in 2009.

He says that MSU is the largest research institution in Montana, spending more than $100 million a year for the past several years. The school is ranked in the top tier of research institutions by the Carnegie Foundation. And, when private construction was bottoming out, MSU was busy building.

"Two years ago, we opened up Gaines Hall, a completely renovated Gaines Hall. People who have been around this town realize it doesn't look anything like it used to. We did a $13 million animal science building, a $25 million chemistry building, and, most of these were being done during the time when people were having a hard time, struggling in the construction business," McCoy said.

McCoy reminded the audience that MSU has a record enrollment of 14,000 students this year.