Economic Impact of the Zoo on Greater Cincinnati's Employment

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is one of the premier recreational and cultural attractions in the Cincinnati Tri-state region, creating adventure through its special events, conveying knowledge through its programs, and conserving nature through its exhibits.  In addition to its international reputation as an environmental and educational institution, it creates economic benefits for numerous households and businesses in the Greater Cincinnati community through its employment and business activity.

This report estimates the economic impact of the Zoo on Greater Cincinnati’s employment, household earnings, and business sales for the 2001.  The impact of The Cincinnati Zoo on Greater Cincinnati is multi-faceted.  Through its spending, its contracted services, and spending by visitors from outside the area, it benefits the regional economy.  Through its plant and animal exhibits, programs, special events, and continuing development, it has an impact on the surrounding community in many other ways.

Total Economic Impact

• The total economic impact of the Cincinnati Zoo is $87.8 million.  This includes a household earnings impact of over $30 million.  The total impact on employment in Greater Cincinnati is more than 1,200 jobs.
• Together, these economic activities generated over $1 million annually in local tax revenue, including $750,000 for Hamilton County and the City of Cincinnati.
• When the total economic impact of $87.8 million is compared with the Zoo’s spending of $22.8 million for operations and construction, it results in an overall economic multiplier of 3.86, a number which very few local enterprises can match.

Sources of Economic Impact

• The economic impact of the Cincinnati Zoo operations accounts for $46.0 million of the total economic impact, which generates $17.4 million in household income and supports 664 full- and part-time jobs.
• Related spending by out-of-town visitors on dining, lodging, etc., accounts for another $30.7 million of the total economic impact, which generates $9.3 million in household income, and supports 445 full- and part-time jobs.
• The economic impact of the Cincinnati Zoo capital expenditures for construction accounts for the remaining $11.0 million of the total economic impact, which generates $3.4 million in household income and supports 103 full- and part-time jobs.

New Money

• Through attraction of visitors from outside the area, the Cincinnati Zoo brings $19.5 million in new money into the region, replenishing and expanding the Greater Cincinnati economy.
• Hamilton County specifically benefits as a result of both visitors from outside the area and Zoo visitors who come from other counties within the Cincinnati area, who combine to spend over $22 million in Hamilton County during trips to the Zoo.

Other Local Impact

• Nearly three fourths of the Cincinnati Zoo’s employees live in Hamilton County, which has less than half of the region’s population.  As a result, the benefits of the Zoo’s employment are concentrated in the county.

Growth

• Between 1996 and 2001, the economic impact of the Cincinnati Zoo on the Cincinnati area has increased by 30 percent.
• The Zoo is a growing source of local tax revenues.  Its projected growth rate from 2001 to 2003 is estimated to be roughly three times Hamilton County’s growth in retail sales and personal income.

Comparison with Other Attractions

• In terms of attendance, the Cincinnati Zoo is a leading regional cultural attraction and the top year-round attraction in Hamilton County.  In Hamilton County, the economic impact of the Cincinnati Zoo is surpassed only by the Reds and the Bengals.
• Regional Cultural Institution
• Every year, the Cincinnati Zoo delivers an exciting educational experience to hundreds of thousands of young people.  An estimated 47.5% of the Zoo’s 1,183,000 visitors are children.
• Last year, the Cincinnati Zoo educational staff produced more than 4,600 presentations of over 50 programs, with a combined attendance in excess of 270,000.  Most of these programs are offered at nominal or no cost.
• The Cincinnati Zoo works with local schools to facilitate school field trips, which last year brought a total of 113,074 children to the Zoo.
• The Zoo also partners with local educators to provide training for teachers, classes for university students, and the Zoo Academy, a unique Cincinnati public high school.