Grand
Lake St. Marys Fuels The Economy |
 | | You
know Grand Lake St. Marys as a recreational hub and wildlife habitat,
but have you ever considered the economic impact of the lake?
All stakeholders - businesses and citizens alike - benefit
from a clean and healthy Grand Lake St. Marys. As you'll see
in this installment, Grand Lake St. Marys is more than a valuable
natural resource; it is the one single economic resource that is
critical to the well-being of all who live and work in the GLSM region.
Grand Lake St. Marys creates and maintains jobs, attracts
employers, injects tourism and tax revenue into the local economy, and
presents future opportunities above and beyond what has ever been
achieved before. Without Grand Lake St. Marys, the region
would be like so many others nationwide without a major attraction; but
with Grand Lake St. Marys, all stand to benefit from the influx of
funds directly and indirectly derived from the lake.
| |  | Grand
Lake St. Marys Economic Facts - pre-algal bloom |
|   |  | Grand Lake St. Marys accounts for
more than $150 million in annual attributed revenue. More than 750,000
people visit Grand Lake St. Marys every year, and more than 11,000
citizens reside in the watershed
|
| The actual economic impact of
GLSM is even greater - the $150 million figure does not include revenue
generated by those living in the area, property taxes, and other
non-tourism-related revenues. Some estimates have the annual economic impact of Grand Lake St. Marys to be between $193 million and over $200 million |
In
addition
to travel and tourism
industries, manufacturers and business services sectors are important
tourism beneficiaries as suppliers
 |
Tourism supports 1 in every 17 private sector jobs
in Auglaize and Mercer Counties
 | 
Tourism generates nearly $40
million in personal income annually; and hospitality alone accounts for nearly 2,500 jobs
Tourism
generates more than $18 million in taxes and fees annually; which comes
to more than $9 million in state and local taxes (approx. $5 million
state, $4 million local)
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|
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| What
Happens When Things Go Wrong? |  |
The crisis in Grand
Lake St. Marys doesn't just keep boaters, fishers, swimmers, and other
enthusiasts out of the water; it threatens the local economy via the
following mechanisms.
 $60 to $80 million in annual lost revenue.
When the lake suffers, we all suffer. Tourists stop coming here,
and they stop spending money here. It is estimated that local
businesses suffered, on average, 35% to 40%
losses in revenue over the past two summers due to the lake's poor
conditions and the resulting slow tourism. At $150 million in
annual revenue, a 40% loss adds up to $60 million in lost
revenue - annually. At $193 million, we lose $77 million.
At $200 million, that adds up to $80 million in local losses.
 Elimination of jobs. When
businesses lose money, they cannot afford to hire employees.
When restaurants can't fill tables, campgrounds can't fill
sites, bait shops can't sell bait and tackle, gas stations and
convenience stores fall short, marinas can't sell boats, and myriad
other businesses suffer, they cut back - and employees are often the
first to go. Eventually, businesses shut down
permanently.
 Lost tax revenues.
People move away, leaving empty homes and the loss of property tax.
Retail and service sales drop, severely reducing the amount
of local tax revenue collected. Funds used to deploy programs
and maintain parks, streets, and utilities are depleted, and the entire
Grand Lake St. Marys community suffers.
 Loss of economic development. Grand
Lake St. Marys is a major selling point when it comes to attracting
large employers to the area. When the lake is not healthy or
usable - and indeed, when it is getting bad press - it becomes very
difficult to sell the area to large employers.
 Property value decline.
It is estimated that regional property values have decreased by
14% in the last two years, with 6% of that decline directly attributed
to the conditions of Grand Lake St. Marys. Cumulatively, that
comes to more than $25 million in lost property values area-wide.
 Reduced quality of life for everyone.
Less revenue, fewer jobs, the elimination of recreational resources,
governments with fewer funds to disperse for community improvement,
and, of course, a large body of unhealthy water means a reduced quality
of life for everyone who works and lives in the Grand Lake St. Marys
region.
| |
How Can We Restore The Economy? How
Can I Help? |
| | 
|
| A
clean, healthy Grand Lake St. Marys has the potential to spark and
maintain an economic boom in Auglaize and Mercer Counties. The $150 to $200
million in annual sales is just the tip of the iceberg.
It's
speculative, certainly, but imagine potential revenues if Grand Lake
St. Marys is restored and a luxury resort came to the area? How about
an amusement park such as Gordon State Park, which graced the shores of Villa Nova
so many years ago?
The return of the Governor's Cup
Regatta alone is a start; but think of the possibilities of Ohio's
largest inland lake. Think of the revenue made by Put-In-Bay, and
consider that Grand Lake St. Marys has a distinct advantage when it
comes to tourism: we have more land area, and can therefore
accommodate more tourists and more spending. The possiblities to
increase quality of life for all stakeholders are endless, but it all
starts with restoring Grand Lake St. Marys.
The Grand
Lake St. Marys Restoration Commission, a collaboration between many
local agencies, has dedicated time, money, and resources to determine
exactly what has caused the lake's degradation and what needs to be
done to restore Grand Lake St. Marys. As such, the GLSMRC has
developed an Action Plan that clearly describes the steps it will take
in the upcoming months.
DOWNLOAD THE GLSMRC ACTION PLAN FOR GRAND LAKE ST. MARYS RIGHT NOW
Read it, study it, understand it, and then find out how you can help restore Grand Lake St. Marys.
The future of Grand Lake St.
Marys depends on you.
Yesterday, Grand Lake St.
Marys was indeed the grandest of them all. Today it is in
trouble. What tomorrow
brings is unknown.
We can do
nothing and allow the lake to meet its end. Or, we can work
together to return Grand Lake St. Marys to its former glory and power
as a famous recreation hub and thriving economic boon. You
can start by downloading your Personal Action Plan.
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| | | | | Special
thanks to Donna Grube, Executive Director, Auglaize/Mercer County Convention and Visitor's Bureau; and Jared Ebbing,
Economic Development Director, Mercer County Community Development
Department, for their valuable insights, time, and materials in helping
produce this installment on the economy of Grand Lake St. Marys.
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