One of the seemingly ever-present components of getting folks to give money to you is the subterfuge of economic impact numbers. Take a look at this article from The Atlantic.

The economic impact analysis (EIA) examines the effect of an event on the economy in a specified area, ranging from a single neighborhood to the entire globe. It usually measures changes in business revenue, business profits, personal wages, and/or jobs.

The same is true when speculation turned into reality-of-sorts about the economic impact that might result from the projected visitors to the Turkey Hill Experience and then, too, Columbia.

Turkey Hill Experience Website, Baltimore Sun article, April, 2013

“’This old shell of a building will be transformed. By the time it’s opened in April 2011, we’ll have 250,000 visitors a year coming to Columbia,’ said John Cox, Turkey Hill Dairy executive vice president, speaking at the event.” – Lancaster Newspapers, Inc. article, August, 2010

Turkey Hill Experience Website, Lancaster County Magazine, July 2011

“Roberts, who developed a similar complex for Binney & Smith’s Crayola division in Easton during the mid-1990s, predicts the Columbia attraction would draw 250,000 to 350,000 visitors per year.” – Harrisburg Patriot-News article, September, 2010

“The Dairy anticipates it will attract more than 250,000 visitors a year.” – Turkey Hill Experience Website, news release, February, 2011

“If the destination hits its projected attendance of 250,000 visitors a year, it would be among the busiest tourist attractions in Lancaster County.” – Lancaster Farming, June, 2011

Turkey Hill Experience Website, North Penn Life, July 2011

“With a projected presence of 250,000+ annual tourists, the site will enhance economic vitality for complimentary businesses and industry throughout the local area.” – Columbia Economic Development Corporation Website

Extracted from the grant application for the Experience.

“Roberts, who developed a similar complex for Binney & Smith’s Crayola division in Easton during the mid-1990s, predicts the Columbia attraction would draw 250,000 to 350,000 visitors per year.” – Lancaster Online, September, 2008

Extracted from Lancaster County Planning Commission Report, January 2011.

Chamber of Commerce newsletter claim of the number of “impressions” a message on the digital sign at the eastbound exit of Route 30.

At Monday night’s council meeting, Columbia Market House’s market manager petitioned the Council for financial support to enter into a collaborative marketing initiative with the Turkey Hill Experience. She said the Turkey Hill Experience manager, Bob Adams, claimed 90,000 people have visited the attraction so far this year and the year-end total of visitors will be 150,000.

No wonder one or two councillors and several in the gallery wondered aloud whether the joint endeavor was as good as it sounded.

Coming up: more on the numbers of economic development.