Economic Impact Study

Profits Through Preservation

Among the important findings is that Utah benefited by $717,811,000 in direct and indirect spending by visitors to Utah heritage sites and special events, and $35,455,268 in investment that stayed in Utah rather then sent to Washington, D.C. because of projects that utilized the Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit.

Download products from the study:

Video

Watch Donavan Rypkema's interview, "Historical Preservation and the Utah Economy," with the Salt Lake Chamber.

Also available, Donovan Rypkema's presentation on June 25, 2013 via YouTube

Thank you to Salt Lake City Corp. Information Management Services for the video content.

Background

Preservation Utah issued a request for proposals in Fall 2012 and a steering committee selected PlaceEconomics to conduct the study. The study addresses how historic preservation contributes to job creation, building property values, revitalizing downtowns, leveraging private investment, building heritage tourism, and is fiscally responsible and sustainable development. PlaceEconomics specializes in services to public and non-profit sector clients who are dealing with downtown and neighborhood commercial district revitalization and the reuse of historic structures. Donovan Rypkema, principal of PlaceEconomics, led a team of researchers.

During June 2013, Preservation Utah and PlaceEconomics provided four free public presentations in Park City, Salt Lake City, Brigham City, and Ogden to release the Executive Summary. The Summary Report was released September 1, 2013 and the Technical Report released on January 15, 2014.

According to Preservation Utah's Executive Director in 2014, Kirk Huffaker, "Our goal was to determine the direct and indirect benefits of historic preservation in Utah." Huffaker said, "We think the study hit the mark and the findings will be very interesting to individuals and elected officials who are concerned with preservation's impact."

Funding

This study was funded in part by the Cedar City Brian Head Tourism Bureau, George S. and Dolores Dorѐ Eccles Foundation, Salt Lake City Corporation, Southern Utah University Regional Services, Utah Division of State History, Utah State Parks, Utah Transit Authority, and Zions Bank.

This project has been funded by a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Utah Preservation Initiatives Fund.

The activity that is subject of this report has been financed in part with federal funds from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, and administered by the State Historic Preservation Office of Utah. The contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of the Interior or the Utah State Historic Preservation Office, nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Department of the Interior or the Utah State Historic Preservation Office.

This program receives federal financial assistnace for identification and protection of historic properties. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, the U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability or age in its federally assisted programs. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or if you desire further information, please write to: Office for Equal Opportunity, National Park Service, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20240.