Horses are big business for Aiken County economy
In 2008, the Aiken Chamber of Commerce commissioned a survey by the University of South Carolina Aiken School of Business to outline the Economic Profile of Aiken County and the Economic Impact of the Equine Industry. This study revealed that the equine industry’s economic impact in Aiken County tops $72 million annually and provides more than 1,800 jobs in Aiken County.
What this study shows is that horses go above and beyond simply being for hobby or pleasure riding. The reality is that horses are an industry – and a big one. In 2005, the American Horse Council housed in Washington, D.C., hired Deloitte Consulting, LLP to do an economic impact study that showed that the horse industry in the United States contributes $39 billion in direct economic impact to the U.S. economy and supports 1.4 million jobs on a full-time basis. When indirect and induced spending is included, the industry’s economic impact reaches $102 billion. The study also estimates the horse population in this country has reached 9.2 million.
Here in Aiken, we have quite a large market share of this valuable industry as horses have been an important part of Aiken’s charm for more than 135 years. Within the last six years, this horse friendly community has attracted equestrians from all over the country, from places where horse communities have been repeatedly squeezed out by over development and a lack of understanding of equine as a valuable industry. With the increased interest in the beautiful rural landscape and horse friendly country of Aiken, the economic impact of this historically revered industry has also taken off.
With this growth in mind, the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce created an Equine Steering Committee in 2009. Having seen too many towns in the country lose their valuable equine industry to overgrowth and the loss of open space, the Aiken Chamber wants to be proactive in protecting this industry in Aiken. The Chamber commissioned survey shows that the Equine Industry is our third largest industry group in Aiken. What is particularly interesting about this industry is that it is one that brings a huge income without the usual expensive infrastructure. Without attention to long range goals, this industry could be in jeopardy of being squeezed out of Aiken County – just as it has been in so many other areas where all these new horsemen have moved from. Full Story.
Front Gate Properties, We’re selling the BEST Real Estate in Aiken, SC.
Leave a Reply