The annual economic impact of recreational bicycling in Greene County is $1.3 million, Luke Hoffman of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition told the Greene County supervisors March 3 as he presented findings of a study on the impacts of cycling and trails in Iowa.
“You’re kidding,” supervisor Dan Benitz said on hearing that.
The study was done to update information last gathered in 2012. The Iowa Economic Development Authority was a partner in the study, after seeing a need for updated information in grant applications. The Iowa National Heritage Foundation was a partner, along with nearly 50 other groups. A case study of Jefferson and Greene County is part of the full study.
The case study estimates that about 2,100 Greene County residents ride recreationally, about 880 of whom ride at least twice a month. That figure was used to calculate the total estimated spending. Not all the total was spent in the county, though. An estimated $970,000 was spent on buying and renting bikes, and another $190,000 was spent on bike repair/maintenance. A large share of that would have been spent elsewhere.
Of the remaining $1.94 million, $690,000 was spent on restaurants and bars; $370,000 was spent on shopping; and $175,000 was spent on lodging. Grocery/food/drink, transportation/gas, and event admissions and entertainment were the remaining categories of spending.
Hoffman talked about the needed repair to the Raccoon River Valley Trail from Winkleman switch just south of Jefferson south to Yale. The surface of the trail there is poor enough that there are many stories of bicyclists avoiding riding north of Yale and advising their friends to do the same.
The cost to repair that 14 miles of trail is estimated at $5.8 million. The study estimates that investment would result in $6.2 million in gross economic output and $3.4 million in total economic impact.
“I think this is an opportunity to buttress the county’s GDP growth… and putting this county on the map as a place to go,” Hoffman said.
After Hoffman’s presentation, Benitz said, “I think we all agree we need a nice bike trail, but right now, it’s how we’re going to pay for it. We have a lot of commitments – security and safety, this building. We have to figure out a way to get it all done.”
Hoffman asked if TIF or bonding could be tools in funding such a project. “TIF is all spoken for,” supervisor Dawn Rudolph said.
“Right now we’re heavily bonded. We’re building a new jail,” supervisor Tim Bardole continued.
Hoffman suggested grant and loan opportunities for the supervisors to consider. The complete study is available on the Iowa Bicycle Coalition website.
