"Economic Impact Study: PDX a multi-billion dollar industry for the Portland metro area"

Wednesday, May 12, 2004
 
PDX a multi-billion dollar industry for the Portland metro area, study says
By ABE ESTIMADA
KGW.com


Portland International Airport helped generate nearly $5.6 billion in
regional business revenues and $1.9 billion in wages and salaries in 2003,
according to findings of a new economic impact study conducted for the Port
of Portland. 

The study concluded that 74,361 regional jobs were in some way related to
activity at the airport. Approximately 57,040 of those jobs supported the
regional visitor industry, serving the 3.7 million visitors who arrived via
PDX. 

The Port conducts periodic economic impact studies to measure the economic
impacts generated by passenger, freight, military and general aviation
activities at PDX. The study was conducted by John C. Martin Associates,
LLC, of Lancaster, Pa. 

"The airport obviously helps connect people to both places and jobs,
improving our regional economy and quality of life," said Bill Wyatt, Port
of Portland Executive Director. "The challenge is providing a quality air
transportation system that responds to our community's needs." 

Approximately $3.2 billion of the $5.6 billion in business revenues was
directly generated by airport activities, including $785 million in air
cargo activities. 

The remaining business revenue was generated by both domestic and
international visitors who spent about $2.4 billion on regional hotels,
restaurants, retail stores and entertainment establishments. 

Of the 74,361 regional jobs related to activity at PDX, 17,321 were more
directly associated with the airport, and 57,040 were related to the visitor
industry. Of the 17,321 jobs, 8,963 were direct airport jobs, such as
working for an airline or a business at the airport. 

Multnomah County residents filled 42 percent of those direct jobs and Clark
Country residents filled 33 percent. Residents of Clackamas, Washington and
Skamania counties and other areas filled the remaining direct jobs. 

Another 5,020 jobs supported the purchases of goods and services by those in
direct jobs, and 3,339 jobs supported the purchases of the firms providing
direct jobs. 

In other findings, the study determined that the federal government received
$212.4 million and state and local governments got $176.6 million in
airport-specific taxes from activities.

Attached Photo:

Portland International Airport.

PDX.jpg