Clemson Conference Center and Inn generates 345 jobs, $14 million for economy
January 18, 2011
CLEMSON, SC – January 18, 2011 – Clemson University’s Conference Center and Inn complex has a $14million average annual impact on the local economy and maintains morethan 345 jobs through operations and patron spending in South Carolina,according to a study.
The study, by the Regional Dynamics and Economic Modeling Laboratoryat the Strom Thurmond Institute of Government and Public Affairs, lookedat the economic impact the complex had on Pickens, Oconee, Anderson andGreenville counties each year from 2006 to 2010. It studied the impactof the operations of the Madren Center, Walker Golf Course and MartinInn, as well as the impact of dollars spent by visitors to the complex.
The $14 million includes the direct, indirect and induced impacts ofthe Conference Center and Inn. Direct impact includes the jobs andincomes of Conference Center and Inn employees and purchases of goodsand services from local suppliers. Indirect impact counts the jobs andincomes created by those suppliers. Induced impact is the increasedeconomic activity in the local economy through consumer spendingresulting from income generated by the Conference Center and Inn’seconomic activity.
“Ripples in a pond is a good illustration to describe indirect andinduced effects,” said Rob Carey, interim director of the RegionalDynamics and Economic Modeling Laboratory at the Strom ThurmondInstitute. “Every time someone spends money at a business, then thatbusiness is able to turn around and spend money somewhere else, and soon.”
That “ripple effect” also has an impact on job creation, Carey said.
“For every 10 jobs created at the Conference Center and Inn, anadditional seven jobs are created by spillover at other localbusinesses,” he said.
Not only does the complex help create jobs by providing support forlocal businesses, it helps educate students going into the hospitalityindustry, said Jeff Martin, director of the Conference Center and Inn.
“Many Clemson students have benefited from internships, practicumsand entry-level jobs in the hospitality field. Adding a skilled workforce in an important industry in South Carolina,” he said. “TheConference Center and Inn, from its inception, was designed to supportthe academic mission of the university and the economic value of SouthCarolina.”
The complex also helps bring in revenue for local and stategovernment, according to the study. Governments on the municipal andcounty level received an average of $475,000 in net revenues per yearfrom Conference Center and Inn operations and guests. The stategovernment received an average of $1.5 million per year directly andindirectly from the complex. Most government revenue comes from taxes,such as sales taxes paid by visitors to the complex.
“We always felt that the Conference Center and Inn was a powerfuleconomic engine, and this study confirms that,” Martin said. “We areproud of this contribution and look forward to continuing supporting thehospitality industry in this area for many future years.”
