An economic impact study showed $7.1 million in spending associated with Columbia's month-long Christmas celebration in 2019.
Marion County Development Partnership President Lori Watts on June 3 briefed the Board of Supervisors about the study.
“Wow,” Supervisor Calvin Newsom said in response to the amount the study found was spent.
The MCDP commissioned the study completed by students from the Trent Lott National Center for Economic Development at the University of Southern Mississippi, and Watts said it found non-residents spent $5.2 million and residents $1.9 million.
“That showed it was a good event for us,” Watts said.
Watts said she has not had a chance to finish examining the study closely, but as soon as she does she would present a synopsis to supervisors and the Columbia Board of Aldermen.
For the second year, Experience Columbia LLC hosted events throughout December that drew thousands of visitors downtown for lights shows, ice skating and other holiday fun. The Board of Aldermen allocated $275,000 from a 3% tax on restaurants and hotels to go toward those promotions. That same amount is under contract to be spent again during the 2020 holiday season.
In other economic development news, Watts said the MDCP is shifting its focus from looking outside for recruiting industry to supporting local businesses and industries.
Watts told the board that sales were up almost 10% during the first quarter of 2020 versus the same period in 2019, much to the surprise of everyone. The second quarter will definitely be interesting, she said.
“Gross sales were significantly up in the first quarter,” Watts said.
She said through the various video meetings she has been involved in, both nationally and internationally, it is the general belief within the next couple of years there will be a “reshoring” of a lot of industries and manufacturing of essential goods that are currently not made in the U.S.
“I believe Marion County has the sites and acreage, and we have been working hard to get sites ready,” Watts said regarding recruiting businesses to the county.
An environmental Phase I study has already been completed on acreage near the airport, Watts said.
The Safran Electronics & Defense parachute factory, often referred to as "Pioneer," has been staggering shifts and will continue to do so until it shuts down for the normal July break, she said. Beginning July 13, the plant should be running full power, Watts said. A lot of the workers fall in the high-risk category in contracting the coronavirus, which caused the shutdown to be so long and is why the company is restarting with staggering shifts.
“We have other manufactures who are saying their businesses are growing. We have businesses who have had increased business during these months, so I am very hopeful that those strong businesses who were not knocked down will help the small businesses who were hurt very hard,” Watts said.
