Visitors to the Colorado National Monument spent $25.2 million in nearby cities, according to a new analysis

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Administrator brings Monumental spending: well-rounded perspective Visitor analysis totals to new Mesa County role local economic effects

Phil Castle as well as New England and Canada. Visitors to the Colorado National Monument The Business Times Whidden said people who work in information technology aren’t just “geeks,” spent $25.2 million in area communities in 2019

Frank Whidden brings what he Visitors to the Colorado National but offer an important perspective because $36.7 million that was spent during 2015. considers a well-rounded perspective to his Monument spent an estimated $25.2 million they’re familiar with nearly every aspect of For 2019, lodging accounted for new job as Mesa County administrator. in Grand Junction, Fruita and other nearby operations and how work gets done. They more than a third of visitor spending at Whidden worked communities in 2019, in turn contributing also tend to think about new and potentially $8.5 million. Visitors spend another in information nearly $31 million to the area economy, better ways of doing things in asking and $4.9 million at restaurants, $3.7 million technology and holds according to the latest results of an annual answering “what if ” questions. “They know for gasoline and $1.8 million for groceries. a master’s degree in analysis conducted by the National Park how to effect change in an organization.” Retail spending totaled $2.5 million. computer information Service. Whidden expects to bring that same Visitor spending supported 88 jobs in systems. But he also The economic effects of visits to approach to his duties as administrator. the lodging industry, a number matched holds a doctoral national parks, monuments and other Whidden said it’s his role to help by employment related to secondary degree in applied National Park Service sites in 2019 was county commissioners make and then effects. Spending also supported 77 jobs in management and estimated at $772 million in Colorado and implement decisions. The commissioners restaurants and 33 jobs in retail. decision making and worked for more than Frank Whidden $41.7 billion nationwide. “These treasured places provide in turn represent the residents of the county and express their will, he said. “We Economic output from visitor spending was greatest at $11.2 million for secondary 20 years as a minister. Whidden has respite and recreation for the American work for the people.” effects, followed by $8.5 million for the worked for large and small organizations people in addition to vital economic Whidden said he also considers himself lodging sector and $4.9 million for restaurants. in both the private and public sectors. support to gateway communities across the a liaison between the commissioners and In Colorado, a total of 7.8 million Whidden expects to draw on all of his country,” said David Bernhardt, secretary county staff, and one of the priorities is to visits to National Park Service sites experiences in helping Mesa County of the Department of Interior, which make sure employees feel valued. Whidden were reported in 2019 and accounted for commissioners make and carry out decisions. oversees the National Park Service. said he hopes not only to improve morale, $515 million in spending. That spending

Valuing staff and making the county The national park visitor spending but also take steps that will make Mesa supported 7,340 jobs, $268 million in labor an employer of choice is among the effects report takes into account the number County an organization for which people income, $464 million in value added and a priorities, Whidden said. So is planning of visitors to National Park Service sites want to work. total economic output of $772 million. that results in sustainable funding and and estimated amount of money they spent Meanwhile, Whidden expects the Annual visitor spending in Colorado balanced budgets on a long-term basis. in communities within 60 miles. The report county to continue policies and initiatives has increased more than 48 percent since Meanwhile, Mesa County will also calculates the number of jobs visitor that support local business and economic 2012. continue to pursue efforts that promote a spending supported and the indirect and development. There are additional steps Rocky Mountain National Park alone friendly business environment and induced effects of visitor spending that add that can be taken to make it easier for local accounted for 4.7 million visitors and economic development, Whidden said. to economic contributions. businesses to sell products and services to $314 million in spending in 2019.

Whidden officially began working as The Colorado National Monument the county, he added. Nationwide, more than 327 million county administrator at the beginning of attracted 397,000 visitors in 2019 who Mesa County will keep working with visitors spent a total of $21 billion in the year. He succeeds Tom Fisher, who was spent an estimated total of $25.2 million other government entities, organizations communities near National Park Service hired as county manager in Summit in gateway communities. That spending and institutions on fostering an environment sites. That spending supported 340,500 County, Utah. in turn supported 352 jobs, $9.7 million in that supports existing businesses and jobs and resulted in a total economic Whidden joined Mesa County in labor income, $17.1 million in value added attracts new businesses, he said. output of $41.7 billion. August 2011 as information technology and a total of $30.7 million in economic Whidden said there could be a Lodging expenses accounted for the director. In April 2014, he became deputy output. opportunities to encourage the additional biggest share of spending at $7.1 billion, county administrator for resource Annual visitor spending near the development of businesses that provide while economic output was greatest in the management in a staffing reorganization Colorado National Monument was the services to the agricultural industry as well restaurant sector at $4.2 billion. that eliminated four director positions. highest since 2016, but still below the as promote Mesa County as a distribution F

Before joining Mesa County, center for the region. Whidden worked for a company providing information technology services to The important thing is to consider issues from a well-rounded perspective, FOR YOUR INFORMATION colleges and universities. In that role, he Whidden said. “We won’t be myopic as we For more information about the National Park Service report on visitor managed IT systems and services for look at things.” spending in 2019, visit www.nps.gov/subjects/socialscience/vse.htm. institutions in Alabama, Arizona, Illinois ✦

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