Sun Valley Resort Area Economic Studies

Two economic studies are summarized under the two tabs to the left of this column. These studies give substantial insight into the structure, dynamics, and diversity our our resort economy. It has been determined that the highly deficient Lodging sector in the Sun Valley Resort Area has led to stratification of resort economic sectors and resulted in very low economic diversity in comparison to competing resort economies. The effect of a deficient Lodging sector is multiplied due to the significant positive impact that hotel guests have on other sectors such as retail and restaurants. In addition a direct, positive correlation of economic diversity with per capita Private Earnings has been established thereby linking resort economic diversity with the prosperity of local salary and wage earners as well as proprietors.

These analyses have clearly shown that our community must focus upon increasing resort economic diversity and that this is most efficiently accomplished by  ensuring investment in the Lodging sector via new build projects or remodel/re-build of existing product.

I encourage you to review these studies. An informed and engaged citizen is critical to any progress that we, as a community, might make.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, or additional input that you might have. I can be contacted via the following channels:

Email: bob@bobyoungman.com

Telephone: 208-721-8404

I am hopeful that, although the results of this studies are rather sobering, we can first identify the nature of our problems and then begin the process of addressing the means to reversing our declining economy and to put us on a path to smart, compatible, and lasting growth.

Bob Youngman