News

April 24, 2009 - Museum Center announces economic impact study findings

CINCINNATI – Cincinnati Museum Center this morning announced the findings of a recently commissioned study that quantifies the organization's impact on the region's economy. The study was completed by the University of Cincinnati's Economics Center for Education & Research and looked at activity from Sept. 2007 to Aug. 2008.

Highlights include:
• Museum Center had an economic impact of nearly $87 million in the region.
• Museum Center is responsible for creating and maintaining more than 1,100 jobs, which generates nearly $27 million in household earnings annually.
• For every dollar Museum Center spends on operating and capital expenses, there is a $3.58 return to the region's economy.

"We're very pleased with the results of this study," said Douglass W. McDonald, president and CEO. "Often times, when people think about arts and culture organizations, they do not take into account the economic benefits that come with the educational and entertainment benefits. That was one of our main goals when commissioning this project."

The annual impact study also looked at Museum Center's benefit to Ohio schools and students, specifically those schools located in less affluent districts. The study showed that from Sept. 2007 to Aug. 2008, more than 100,000 students visited Museum Center from 264 school districts all over the nation, two-thirds of whom were from Ohio schools. Looking at tax data available for those schools in Ohio, approximately two-thirds of the students were from underserved school districts.
During this same time period, one in four school children in Cincinnati’s nine most economically challenged neighborhoods visited Museum Center or participated in a Museum Center outreach program.
In addition to announcing its annual economic and educational impact, Museum Center also announced the findings of a similar study completed to determine the potential impact of the proposed repair and restoration to Union Terminal.

Findings of that study include:
• The proposed $120 million construction project would have an economic impact of nearly $278 million.
• The project would create more than 2,500 new jobs, generating more than $88 million in household earnings.
• Hamilton County and City of Cincinnati tax revenues during the construction period will return $2.15 million.

To view copies of the complete studies and an executive summary, click here.

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Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal is a nationally recognized institution dedicated to sparking community dialogue, insight and inspiration. As one of the top cultural attractions in the Midwest, Cincinnati Museum Center has served as an educational, research and entertainment resource to millions of visitors from around the world.
Organizations within Museum Center include the Cincinnati History Museum, Duke Energy Children's Museum, the Museum of Natural History & Science, the Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX® Theater, and the Cincinnati Historical Society Library. These organizations combine to serve more than one million visitors annually, reaching out to nearly 400,000 young people through hands-on exhibits and programs.
Originally built in 1933 as a train station, Union Terminal stands as one of the last remaining grand-scale Art Deco style railroad terminals. The building is a National Historic Landmark and was renovated and reopened as Cincinnati Museum Center in 1990.For information, call 1-800-733-2077 or visit www.cincymuseum.org.
Cincinnati Museum Center gratefully acknowledges operating and capital support from the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation, the City of Cincinnati, Hamilton County and the State of Ohio.

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