GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Anderson Economic Impact Study from ArtPrize 2013, and conducted every other year, shows attendees spent a net total of $11.5 million.
As visitors pour into downtown, food business owners said the money they make is a direct reflection of ArtPrize.
Vendor Kenny Sall has set up his hot dog stand on Ottawa Avenue NW and Fulton Street during the past week. Sall told FOX 17 he sells about 350 hotdogs each day during ArtPrize, and said business has “tripled.”
“Yesterday I did a little over a grand, and I was only here ‘til 8:30 p.m.,” said Sall.
As far as supplies are concerned, Sall said he prepared for ArtPrize by doubling his normal stock and then went from there.
On Sunday, Dianna Darling, owner of Spoonlickers, told FOX 17 business at their frozen yogurt truck is “huge”; comparable to business at their second or third stores. Darling said ArtPrize helps build their customer base even after the event.
“The cyclical effect is what happens after ArtPrize, which is even more: we meet faces from this area who aren’t aware of our three stores, and then come to our stores; it’s something I can’t analyze from the return on investment," said Darling. "Profitability? Hopefully we’re able to serve at least 500 customers a day. I mean, that’s a lot of people.”
According to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, ArtPrize 2013 brought $22 million into the local economy, more than 380,000 people visited, and on average spectators spent $30 per day.
“It makes Grand Rapids, and by extension Michigan, a great place to want to live to work and play,” said Christian Gaines, executive director of ArtPrize.
