Report says Duluth's Spirit Mountain is a major economic driver; will more public funding follow?

DULUTH – The city should keep investing tourism tax dollars to keep troubled Spirit Mountain afloat and growing, a task force says - the economic impact is worth it.

"Every dollar of tourism tax appropriated to Spirit Mountain generates $18.72 in economic impact," says a lengthy report released Monday with recommendations on how to get the public ski hill on better financial footing following several city bailouts.

The Duluth City Council will now have to decide how to pursue one of the report's biggest recommendations - investing another $23 million in Spirit Mountain to update and upgrade its facilities. Since the recreation area was formed in 1973, the city has spent $19.8 million in tourism taxes and issued $19.3 million in bonds to support operations and infrastructure there.

https://www.startribune.com/report-says-duluth-s-spirit-mountain-is-a-major-economic-driver-will-more-public-funding-follow/600031885/