Economic impact of proposed expansion of the Brainerd Lakes YMCA

Key findings

• Construction impacts: Expansion and renovation construction activities will generate an estimated $43 million of economic activity in Crow Wing County.
  • This includes more than $17 million in labor income.
  • Projects will support 288 jobs.
  • Industries that will benefit the most from the projects include housing, hospitals, and building material suppliers.
     
• Operations impacts: The Brainerd Lakes YMCA’s total operations, including current and new programming and services, will generate an estimated $7.2 million in annual economic impact in Crow Wing County once construction is complete.
  • This includes $2.7 million in labor income for residents.
  • The YMCA will support 343 jobs.
  • Industries that will benefit the most from the YMCA include real estate, owner-occupied dwellings, and electric power generation and distribution.
     
• Neighborhood influence: Data on YMCA users’ traffic patterns shows people clustered in the downtown area — indicating people are coming to downtown either early or staying later in conjunction with their visit to the YMCA.
  • A deeper analysis of the data indicates the most visited locations include the post office, coffee shops, schools, housing developments, and pharmacies.
  • The data indicates the extent to which the YMCA serves as an important element in attracting people to downtown.
     
• Contributions to quality of life: The YMCA contributes to several aspects of quality of life — a conclusion supported by a survey of users.
  • When asked to rate the role of the YMCA on a variety of community metrics, users agreed with the sentiment that the YMCA provides an opportunity to give back and support neighbors (small-town atmosphere), is a resource for nurturing children (positive atmosphere for raising children), and promotes healthy habits (recreational opportunities).
     
• Options for childcare: The YMCA’s expansion of its childcare operations will also provide a needed service for the Brainerd area economy.
  • The number of available daycare slots will increase from 54 to between 128 and 138.
  • Survey data reveals childcare is an issue for both families and employers in Crow Wing County.
     
• Health outcome improvements: Regular exercise and physical activity has positive impacts on health outcomes. These improved health outcomes lead to savings.
  • A 2021 study showed that adults who began to exercise in or before middle age saved anywhere from $824 to $1,874 annually on health care costs after retirement.
  • The Brainerd Lakes YMCA has approximately 900 adult members, equating to a potential savings of $1.7 million per year.