117th Year, 5th Issue Thursday, September 8, 2005 Sparta, North Carolina

Museum’s impact is analyzed

When the Sparta Teapot Museum opens in about three years, it can expect around 61,000 visitors a year. These guests will spend an estimated $7.5 million here annually.

That’s according to Economics Research Associates (ERA), an international firm that analyzes the economic impact of tourism industries, entertainment and leisure, and other types of development. The company has offices in several major U.S. cities and London.

“ERA was hired to show us how many visitors the museum will need to accommodate, how much it will cost to operate, and what the community and the region can expect in the way of economic benefits,” said Jonathan Halsey, project manager for the museum.

Get the rest of this article in this week's issue of the Alleghany News!

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