SPENCER, IA (Northwestiowanow.com) — A new economic study reveals the impact of the Clay County Fair for 2024.
According to a report from Johnson Consulting, the study outlines the High-Level Estimated Economic and Fiscal Impacts of both the Clay County Fair and the Clay County Fair & Events Center for 2024.
The report shows the fair remains one of northwest Iowa’s largest economic drivers, generating $92 million during the nine-day event and nearly $100 million when year-round activity at the Events Center is included.
Nearly 300,000 visitors attended the fair, including 96,000 from outside Spencer. Their stays amounted to roughly 7,700 hotel room nights, and when adding year-round events, total visitation reaches nearly 328,000, resulting in about 8,700 hotel room nights generated across 2024.
Fairgrounds activity supported about 760 jobs throughout Spencer and Clay County, producing just over $3 million in combined state, county, and city tax revenue. Much of that revenue stems from visitor spending at restaurants, hotels, gas stations, and retail businesses in Spencer.
When compared to other fairs in the IAFE Heartland Zone with 200,000 to 500,000 attendees, the Clay County Fair rates close to or above average in several key areas, including attendance, out-of-town visitation, hotel nights, wages generated, and total economic impact.
