Economic Contribution Analysis of the Ute Theater (Rifle, CO)
Primary Topic:
Community & Economic Development
Other Topics:
Food Systems
Internship Overview:
We were approached by a representative from the Ute Theater Board of Directors to study the economic contribution of the Ute Theater in Rifle, CO on the local economy. The theatre had received subsidy dollars from local government to support its establishment. There is a need for additional funding in the future to sustain operations. The hope of this work is to collect data and use IMPLAN software to provide an economic contribution analysis showing the existence of this facility as a benefit to the community. IMPLAN will allow us to take in data, (e.g. sales, concessions, etc), and provide estimates of direct, indirect and induced economic impacts. This work will bring current economic information regarding the Ute Theater and its viability. This work will update key metrics of a 2012 feasibility assessment completed by the City of Rifle through a third-party consultant at the time the theater was coming back into service and present form use. Additionally, we hope to develop a template/tool kit for future economic contribution inquiries of this nature.
Goals, Scope and Objectives:
The goal is to provide an analysis of the economic contribution and benefit to the local economy of the Ute Theater in Rifle, CO.
The scope of this work will include collecting operating cost and income data of the theater, visitor demographics, event quantifiers, etc and using the program IMPLAN to assess said data. The objective is to create a report which shows the economic contribution of the Ute Theater to the local economy. The report will be used by the theater’s Board of Directors for future funding asks, public relations and community narrative, negotiations with local stakeholders, and budgeting. A secondary hope from this work is to ultimately to create a template to be able to do economic contribution analyses for other communities and facilities similar to the Ute Theater.
– Formulate methodology
– Collect data and analyze through IMPLAN
– Disseminate results in a narrative report
– Establish toolkit/template for similar work in additional communities
The scope of this work will include collecting operating cost and income data of the theater, visitor demographics, event quantifiers, etc and using the program IMPLAN to assess said data. The objective is to create a report which shows the economic contribution of the Ute Theater to the local economy. The report will be used by the theater’s Board of Directors for future funding asks, public relations and community narrative, negotiations with local stakeholders, and budgeting. A secondary hope from this work is to ultimately to create a template to be able to do economic contribution analyses for other communities and facilities similar to the Ute Theater.
– Formulate methodology
– Collect data and analyze through IMPLAN
– Disseminate results in a narrative report
– Establish toolkit/template for similar work in additional communities
With which stakeholder group(s) will the intern work?
We will be working with the local CSU Extension office, the Ute Theater facility manager and staff, county representatives, city representatives, and other local stakeholders.
What student learning outcomes do you anticipate and what are the opportunities for professional development?
The anticipated outcome of this internship is to collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data to generate a report useful to the Ute Theater Board of Directors on the economic contribution of the facility to the local economy. This product will be useful and informative towards decision making internal to the organization and external when approaching funders and community stakeholders. Other outcomes will include working with local stakeholders and government officials to disseminate data and results of the study.
