How An Impact Study Assisted The UPSDA

Posted by Lake Superior Community Partnership on July 6, 2022

We needed an economic impact assessment and Lake Superior Community Partnership (LSCP) was an excellent partner! For more than 30 years, the Upper Peninsula Sled Dog Association (UPSDA) has brought the UP200, Midnight Run, and Jack Pine 30 sled dog championship races to the Marquette region each February. Five years ago, we added the UP200 Dryland Dash to our repertoire.

 

LSCP helped UPSDA with an economic impact study in 2015 and we knew it was time for a repeat. In collaboration with LSCP, we did a trial run in October at the UP200 Dryland Dash, and then LSCP staff helped us fine-tune our survey and develop distribution methods for the 2020 winter sled dog races. LSCP staff applied metrics to the raw data we collected and developed a concise, cogent economic impact assessment.

 

Knowing our economic impact enables UPSDA to express the value of our events to the communities involved and to affirm this value to our sponsors and local businesses.  This economic information is invaluable and the support and expertise we found at LSCP made it possible for us to know.

 

– Darlene Walch, UPSDA President

 

Learn more about the UP200 event by visiting their website. www.up200.org

 

Featured image source: https://www.up200.org/race-info/u-p-200/