Economic Impact

In Fresno rich are richer, poor are getting poorer

(AP) — Economic researchers say the income gap is widening in Fresno County, where the richest 20 percent of families earn 82 percent of the wealth.

Officials of Fresno Works for a Better Health Advocacy Center said the poorest 20 percent of all households earned just 1 percent of the total income.

A study shows that jobs in Fresno County pay $18.28 an hour compared with $21.78 percent statewide, and white men and women earn 18 percent more than other races. Also, 35 percent of the county's jobs pay less than $14 an hour, compared with 23.5 percent statewide.

The study used data collected at the Center for Economic Research and Education of Central California at California State University, Fresno.

The report's conclusion is that Fresno County is stuck in a low-wage economy.

Written by Associated Press Staff Writer

Thursday, 30 October 2008

 

Study Shows $119,700,000 In Economic Activity And 2,725 Jobs Are Generated Annually By The Nonprofit Arts And Culture Industry I

Revealing the Nonprofit Arts Industry as a Formidable Business and Economic Driver for Fresno County

FRESNO, CALIFORNIA — October 17, 2008 — FRESNO COALITION FOR ARTS, SCIENCE & HISTORY (FCASH) announced today the results of the economic impact of the nonprofit arts industry in Fresno County. These local results were compiled as part of the most comprehensive economic impact study of the nonprofit arts and culture industry ever conducted in the United States. Entitled Arts & Economic Prosperity III, the study was conducted in 156 communities and regions (116 cities and counties, 35 multi-county regions, and 5 states) including Fresno County. FCASH helped to facilitate the gathering of the detailed economic data from 69 arts organizations that were among 6,080 local arts organizations surveyed nationwide. Americans for the Arts, which conducted the national study, is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America.

The local data reveals that Fresno County’s nonprofit arts industry generates $119,700,000 in economic activity annually, including:

• 2,725 full-time equivalent jobs
• $61,300,000 in resident household income
• $3,704,000 in local government tax revenues
• $7,683,000 in state government tax revenues

Cynthia Cooper, Executive Director of the Fresno Coalition for Arts, Science & History, said the organization took a giant leap this year, requesting and receiving support from city and county entities and the Regional Foundation to conduct this overdue study. It definitely shows that Fresno County’s nonprofit cultural arts institutions both create jobs and economically impact the community in direct and indirect ways at a significant level compared with other areas nationwide. It also shows the cultural arts have so much more growth potential in impacting our community.

The $119,700,000 total includes $55,200,000 in spending by arts organizations and $64,500,000 in event-related spending by arts audiences, excluding the cost of admission. The $64,500,000 in event-related spending by arts audiences reflects an average of $30.21 per person in spending for hotels, restaurants, parking, souvenirs, refreshments, or other similar costs—with non-local attendees spending nearly twice as much as local attendees ($28.82 compared to $49.30. This compares Fresno County favorably to Montgomery County, Maryland, nationally or to Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties in California.

Nationally, according to Americans for the Arts report, the nonprofit arts industry generates 5.7 million jobs and $166.2 billion in total economic activity every year, resulting in $29.6 billion in federal, state, and local government revenues. The $166.2 billion total includes $63.1 billion in spending by arts organizations and $103.1 billion in event-related spending by their audiences. The total economic activity has a significant national impact, generating the following:

• 5.7 million full-time equivalent jobs
• $104.2 billion in resident household income
• $7.9 billion in local government tax revenues
• $9.1 billion in state government tax revenues
• $12.6 billion in federal government tax revenues

“This study is a myth buster,” said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. “Most Americans understand that the arts improve our quality of life. This study demonstrates that the arts are an industry that stimulates the economy in cities and towns across the country. A vibrant arts and culture industry helps local businesses thrive.”

The nation’s nonprofit arts and culture industry has grown steadily since the first analysis by Americans for the Arts in 1992, expanding at a rate greater than inflation. Between the second study conducted in 2000 and 2005, spending by organizations and their audiences grew 24 percent, from $134 billion to $166.2 billion in total economic activity.

The Arts & Economic Prosperity III study shows that nonprofits arts support more jobs than accountants and auditors, public safety officers, and even lawyers, and just slightly fewer than elementary school teachers. Spending by nonprofit arts and culture organizations provide rewarding employment for more than just artists, curators, and musicians but they also directly support builders, plumbers, accountants, printers, and an array of occupations.

In addition, the study reveals that the nonprofit arts industry is the cornerstone of tourism. The $103.1 billion in event-related spending by arts audiences reflects an average of $27.79 per person in spending for hotels, restaurants, parking, souvenirs, refreshments, or other similar costs—with non-local attendees spending twice as much as local attendees ($40.19 vs. $19.53). When a community attracts cultural tourists, it harnesses significant economic rewards.

The results of the economic impact of the arts for each of the 116 city and county participants, as well as comparative data for the 24 communities that participated in both the 2002 and current study are available at www.AmericansForTheArts.org/EconomicImpact.
The Arts & Economic Prosperity III study was conducted by Americans for the Arts and supported by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and The Ruth Lilly Fund of Americans for the Arts. Americans for the Arts’ local and statewide project partners contributed both time and financial support to the study. The full text of the national and Fresno reports are available after 10 am, 10/16/08 at http://www.fcash.org.

The FCASH Study under the Americans for the Arts, was supported through a grant from the Fresno Regional Foundation and funds from the County Library (through a grant from the Indian Gaming Commission, the City of Fresno, the City of Clovis, and contributed volunteer efforts in gathering the data. For more detailed information, contact Cynthia Cooper, cc@fcash.org. or www.fcash.org.

Majority of voters (88%) believe that an education in and through the arts is essential to developing imagination

"What is very clear in recent public opinion polling and our own research is that people across the country want a much more engaging and broadened education for students. They want schools to help students set high standards for themselves, have ambition and aspirations for success, and develop the skills to fulfill their dreams and meet the demands of the 21st century world in which we live. And, the majority of voters (88%) believe that an education in and through the arts is essential to developing the capacities of the imagination that empower students to achieve these goals. We have never seen this clear or strong an indication of public support for arts education."

— Richard J. Deasy, Director, Arts Education Partnership
www.aep-arts.org

We need well rounded citizens who use their imagination to solve our world’s problems

"The arts play a very important role in our lives affording students an opportunity to think creatively and look at the world in a broader, more enlightened manner. In the 21st century and during the era of No Child Left Behind, it is even more important to include the arts in the education of our nation’s youth. If we are going to be on the cutting edge of a global economy, we need well rounded citizens who use their imagination to solve our world’s problems. Arts are one way to insure that America remains an Imagine Nation."

— Dr. Gerald N. Tirozzi, Executive Director, National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)
www.principals.org

Arts education gives students the skills of creativity, problem solving, imagination and innovation

"There is a solid body of research showing that arts education leads to well-rounded citizens, giving students the skills of creativity, problem solving, imagination, and innovation. Now, there is evidence that this is understood by the general public, perhaps in ways that it is not understood by local political powers who shape school curricula. Working at the local level with the forces that shape the agendas of local school systems, the arts can be advanced as an integral, central part of the curriculum."

— Henry Fogel, President and CEO, League of American Orchestras
www.americanorchestras.org