Helping local leaders understand event economics
Extension educators conduct research on community-focused topics, which includes understanding local economics. Brigid Tuck, Extension senior economic analyst, and Extension educator John Bennett conducted an economic contribution analysis of the 2024 Grandma’s Marathon Weekend.
Both the full marathon and the 5K set records with the largest race fields in history, and the half marathon hosted the second largest field on record. Along with racers come friends, family and spectators, filling Duluth-area hotels and campgrounds, dining at local restaurants and taking advantage of the recreational amenities.
Report findings showed Grandma’s Marathon and associated events generated significant economic activity in the region. Grandma’s Marathon and events generated $39.4 million in economic activity and created $13.6 million in labor income for the 300 jobs supported by the event. Each person in Duluth for the events spent $176 per day on average. Hotels and motels, bars and restaurants, and gasoline stations directly benefited the most from the events
Highlights
- Tyler N., a St. Louis County 4-H’er, is a Minnesota 4-H State Ambassador. He enjoys projects in photography, food and nutrition, and needle arts.
- Extension staff engaged with 80 staff and clients at the Center for Alcohol and Drug Treatment in Duluth to reduce vaccine hesitancy for individuals with substance use disorder. Also, because physical health is a crucial part of recovery, Extension worked with Treatment Courts to provide health and nutrition education for the participants.
- U of M Farm Family of the Year: Mr. Ed’s Farm
- Minnesota Master Naturalist training: North Woods, Great Lakes biome (Duluth)
- SuperShelf locations: Aurora Food Shelf, Bois Forte Community Food Shelf, Fruit of the Vine Community Food Shelf (Duluth)
- Bob McNamara, a volunteer with the Aquatic Invasive Species Detectors program, regularly removes rusty crayfish from Lake Vermilion.
- Extension and NOAA are working with partners across the Arrowhead to establish a resilience collaborative and create a regional climate resilience plan through the Climate Adaptation Partnership. The Climate Adaptation Partnership also assisted the 1854 Treaty Authority with an updated climate adaptation plan.
- Through the Farm to School Initiative, Extension supported relationship-building between producers and school districts.
Saint Louis County offices
Extension has 14 regional offices supporting all 87 counties in Minnesota.
Saint Louis County partners with Extension to deliver practical education and research you can use at home, at work and in your community. For more about Extension in St. Louis County, see our Duluth and Virginia local office pages.
About the Minnesota 87 project
Spend time in any Minnesota county, and you will almost certainly encounter University of Minnesota Extension. Our faculty and staff, volunteers, participants, alumni and partners are woven into the fabric of rural, urban and suburban Minnesota life. This project showcases Extension in action through photos, stories and a sampling of the many ways Extension has touched the lives of people in every county.