(Spencer)– A study conducted by a Chicago firm shows the 2024 Clay County Fair had a total impact of $92 million on the local economy. Data shows that number was driven by nearly 300,000 people who attended the fair in 2024 with about 96,000 of those coming from out of town, resulting in an estimated 7,700 hotel room nights in the region.
The report says direct spending to the fair in 2024 reached $41.7 million that helped sustain 710 ongoing jobs along with $30.9 million in wages. The fair also contributed about $2.8 million in sales tax revenue and $153,100 in hotel tax revenue.
With fair and non-fair events combined in 2024, the report says the Clay County Fair and the Clay County Regional Events Center activities resulted in nearly 328,000 visitors with a total economic impact of $99.2 million and 760 sustained jobs. It says that was the case despite the historic flood in June of that year.
