Economic Impact of Trail Building

Scott Chapin, RJF Agencies

Background

Economics Major-University Wisconsin Eau ClairePresident-Sawyer County Development

CorporationPast President-Northland Area Builders AssociationSecretary American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation

Background

• Avid Cyclist, Runner, Skier• Active with local IMBA Club-CAMBA• Broker for IMBA• Bike Shop Retail/Race Program

Trail Development

• Attracts Tourists• Tourists Could become Seasonal or

Permanent Residents• Attracts Commerce• Enhances Communities

Trail Development

– Land Managers, Municipalities, Chambers of Commerce Question Economic Impact Data

– Having Economic Data Helps with Financial and Political Support of Trail Projects

– Helps With Volunteer Base

Economic Data

• Analysis is for Sawyer County• Sawyer County Located in NW Wisconsin• Sawyer County Population 16,196 (2000)• 2 ½ Hours from Minneapolis, MN • Median Per Capita Income $24,288

(2002)

Economic Data

• Tourist Area, Historically Fishing/Hunting

• Service Sector Economy• Known for Events: American

Birkebeiner, Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival, Lumberjack World Championships

Economic Data

• Many Second Homeowners in Area• Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike

Association Developed around 1990• Started Signing Existing Double-

Track/Roads• Focus on Singletrack for past 8 Years

Types of Economic Impact

• Direct-Initial Purchase• Indirect-Cross Industry• Induced-Cycled Again in Community

Economic Statistics-National

• $133 Billion Annual Contribution to the U.S. Economy

• Supports 1.1 million jobs• Generates $17.7 billion in annual

federal and state tax revenue

Economic Statistics-National

• Produces $53.1 billion annually in retail sales and services

• ($6.2 billion in gear sales)• ($46.9 billion in bicycling-trip

expenditures)

Economic Impact-Regionally

• (IN, IL, MI, OH, WI)• Contributes $17 billion to regional

economy• Supports 191,000 jobs• Generates $2.2 billion in state and

federal tax revenues

Economic Impact-Regionally

• $12.1 billion in retail sales• ($873 million in bicycling gear sales)• ($11.2 billion in bicycling trip-related

expenditures)

Wisconsin Economic Impact

• 49% of Wisconsin Residents bicycle• Economic Impact of bicycle

recreation/tourism is $925 million• Average Daily Expenditure-$60• Greater Impact than Hunting• 57% of Expenditures from Non-

Residents

Defined Location Economic Impact

• Trails in Miami Valley of Ohio attract 1,000,000 visitors who spend $16 million on related goods and services

• 2009 USA Cycling National CX Championships brought $1 M to Bend, Oregon

• RAGBRAI-$24 M in Economic Impact• Moab Utah-$8.8 M in Economic Impact

(1996)

Defined Location Economic Impact

• Chequamegon Area (Cable/Hayward)-$1.17 M in 1997 (likely 3x this now)

• 161 U.S. Ski Areas open trails to bikers in summer-84 run lifts for cyclists

• 50% of Colorado Tourists are engaged in cycling- $141M-$193 M

Defined Location Economic Impact

• Colorado-Other Revenue Generators• Bicycle Tours $640,000• Racing $2,000,000• Charity Rides $3,400,000

General Public Assumptions

• Cyclists Are Cheap• Cyclists do not spend as much as

other user groups (Tourists)• Cyclists have average income levels• Cyclists (off-road) are 20-somethings

Facts about Cyclists

• 53% of participants in Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival (2,500) are between 35-49 years

• 30% of Cyclists have Household Incomes over $125,000

• 49% of Cyclists have Household Incomes over $100,000 (ABSF Survey)

• 87% of Cyclists/Skiers are college graduates

General Facts About Tourists

• Motel/Hotel Tourists spend $126 per day

• Campground Tourists spend $75 per day

• Daytripper Tourist spend $40 per day• Often it is assumed that most cyclists

visiting the area are “tourists”

General Facts about Second Homeowners

• Second Homeowners Spend $17,571 Per Year In Sawyer County (Sawyer County Development Corporation Study-2008)

• Survey sent to all non-resident homeowners with improvements over $80,000

• 100 User Days Per Year

General Facts about Second Homeowners

• Basic Consumption Items-$5,700 per household (Average)

• Recreation Equipment-$2,800 per household

• Needs for Home (Construction, Remodeling-$14,400 per household

• Note: Not all spent money in all categories

Land Values Adjacent to Trails

– Dependent upon Market– Developers in NW Specializing in

Recreational Use– Land Values 3 years ago were double– Land Values today are 50% higher than

non-recreational developments

Data Analysis-Impact

– Seeley Hills Recreational Development• Adjacent to CAMBA and Birkie Trails• Sample 5.5 Miles of Road• 1994-7 Homes

–

Data Analysis-Impact

• Seeley Hills Recreational Development

• 2010- 51 Homes• 33 of the 51 are Second Homeowners• 2 Retirees• 14 (Newly) Permanent Transplant• 2 Originally from Area

Data Analysis-Impact

– 50/51 Participate in Silent Sports• Average Home Value $300,000• Economic Impact of New Homes ($13.2 M)

• Average Property Taxes $2,000• Property Tax Revenue $88,000

• Average Expenditure in Sawyer County $17,571

• Economic Impact $589,743 (Annually)

Uses for this Data

– Community Support– Public Support– Grant Opportunities

Uses for this Data

• Community Support– Business Sponsorship– Volunteer Support – Land Value Increases-Private Land

Uses for this Data

• Grant Opportunities– Many Grants Available – Economic Improvement Grants– Contact Economic Development

Corporation– Similar Focus on ROI

How can I use this Data

• Grant Scorers Look At:

– 1st or 2nd Tier Jobs (Permanent)– Money Spent in Community (6x7 Times)– Sales and Property Tax Revenue Generated– Social Impact on Community (Need to Sell

your “story”…..effects on children)– “Emotional” Scoring

How can I use this Data

• Grant Scorers Look at– Emotional Scoring– Letters of Support from Legislators– Important to Involve Those on

Appropriation Committees (if for Federal or State Grants)

– Letters of Individual Support

Uses for this Data

• Public Support– Politicians Understand ROI– Trailbuilding Projects=Tax Revenue– Second Homeowners do not have

children in schools, but still pay

Conclusions

• Trail Building Increases Land Values • Trail Building Increases Property Tax

Revenue• Trail Building Produces Local

Economic Impact• Trail Building Brings External

Revenue