Report: Center’s events draw $24.3M into Greene County

The economic impact for Greene County of events held at the center, 3001 N. Grant Ave., is about $24.3 million annually, officials estimate. With an average of 80 events held there each year, more than 500,000 visitors pass through the center’s gates.

Annual events at the center include the Ozark Empire Fair, FarmFest, HorseFest, the Lawn & Garden Show, national livestock shows, motor sports shows, RV shows and collectible and gun shows.

The fair is responsible for a major portion of the center’s economic impact, pulling in nearly $4 million in visitors’ direct spending each year, according to the report. Other events generate a total of more than $10.2 million in direct spending annually.

More than a third – 39 percent – of fair attendees travel more than 25 miles for the fair, with 5 percent of those coming from out-of-state.

The center’s report is the result of a survey of 1,600 fair visitors, 1,200 nonfair event visitors and exhibitors and 400 commercial and livestock fair exhibitors.