KLC presentation: Beaver Dam’s 2024 tourism estimated to generate about $10.4 million in local activity

John McCann, a community economic‑development adviser with the Kentucky League of Cities, told the Beaver Dam City Commission that a KLC study of 2024 visitation shows the city hosted about 300,000 visitors tied to amphitheater events and other downtown attractions. "Over the course of 2024, y'all had just over 300,000 visitors," McCann said, and he summarized the city-level estimates as producing about 59 new jobs, roughly $1.9 million in labor income and about $6.6 million in value added — yielding approximately $10.4 million in local economic activity.

McCann said the study used the InPlan input‑output model and a combination of federal, state and local data. "What these studies help us look at is these larger, city‑wide, community‑wide projects or events…" he said, and cautioned the results are estimates: "some of the numbers within this plan are fantastic… I do wanna caution, they are just an estimate at the end of the day." He said the methodology relies on Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics inputs and state tourism averages, and the KLC intentionally used conservative values.

McCann broke out impacts by event: the Dam itself had about 45,000 visitors in 2024 and generated roughly $1.3 million in activity; the Scribe festival, Christmas parade and other events contributed varying amounts. He also presented an eight‑county regional picture that attributed about 145 jobs and roughly $22 million in regional economic activity to Beaver Dam visitors.

The study included a hypothetical expansion scenario for the amphitheater. McCann said an estimated $500,000 expansion could add about 22,500 visitors and produce an additional $2.4 million in local activity (including construction impacts), about 16 new jobs and about $674,000 in additional labor income. He said those gains might appear in 2026–2027, depending on project timing.

Commissioners asked how county breakdowns were calculated. McCann explained InPlan’s multi‑regional input‑output analysis creates industry‑to‑industry and household interactions and applies multipliers derived from averages; he said the state’s Tourism Economics study was used for per‑visitor spending assumptions. McCann said the KLC will post the report and brochure on its website and offered to work with neighboring counties that want a similar analysis.

The presentation concluded with the Commission thanking McCann and agreeing to make the study available publicly.