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Electric Forest promoter highlights $32M regional economic impact, pitches deeper Muskegon ties
Summary
Promoter Chad Cheek told commissioners Electric Forest draws national and international visitors, generates an estimated $32 million regionally and $55 million statewide, and has increased Muskegon-area hotel room nights after recent coordination with the county’s CVB and chamber.
Chad Cheek, a representative of Electric Forest, told the Muskegon County Board of Commissioners that the festival is a substantial economic driver for the region and outlined plans to expand cooperation with Muskegon County.
Cheek said Electric Forest brings attendees from every U.S. state and multiple countries and that 10% of the festival’s patrons are from the surrounding region while roughly 20% are from within Michigan; he summarized the festival’s most recent regional impact estimate as approximately $32,000,000 and said statewide impact totaled about $55,000,000. "Muskegon is an incredible community partner for our event, and we're really excited about potential growth opportunities," Cheek said.
He described partnerships with local organizations — including a food drive that distributes more than 210,000 meals annually and school-music programs that bring area marching bands to the festival — and noted a new hotel-packaging program that increased local room nights from about 800 in 2025 to over 2,500 this year through coordination with the convention and visitors bureau. Commissioners asked whether Electric Forest had considered relocating; Cheek said Rockbridge/Rothbury remains the festival’s home and noted permit limits and a low number of noise complaints in recent years.
The presentation was informational; no board action was taken.
