The City of Carmel has awarded 28 local arts organizations with $1,172,250 in grants to date from the City’s 2020 Arts Grant Program. This year marks the 17th anniversary of the City of Carmel’s financial support for local arts, which amounts to roughly 1 percent of the city budget each year. Since 2004, more than $13.5 million has been allocated to support local arts programs.
Brainard
“It is our mission as a City to invest our money wisely in order to improve the quality of life in Carmel, a vital part of our overall economic development strategy to attract private investments in our city, which includes new corporate employers and a talented workforce to fill local jobs. We have done this by building the framework for a community that values the arts,” said Mayor Jim Brainard. “As part of that strategy, it is important to support our local arts groups, which are worthy of public support. Studies by the Americans for the Arts show typical visitors to an event spend close to $30 per person, per event, in addition to the cost of admission. That’s money spent at our local restaurants, art galleries and other businesses.”
According to the most recent statistics from Visit Hamilton County, it is estimated that visitors staying in Carmel spend about $353 million annually in lodging, food and beverage, transportation and attractions purchases and contribute significantly to the overall county tourism impact. This economy also supports 5,000 jobs in Carmel and helps local taxpayers reap the support of $42 million in additional state and local tax revenues, which help us keep our local city property tax rate the 12th lowest in the State of Indiana among 118 cities.
Carmel’s support for the arts also helps the overall impact in Hamilton County. For every dollar spent in Hamilton County, 90 cents stayed local, contributing to the gross domestic product here. Visitor spending supports 11,554 jobs in Hamilton County and helps generate nearly $98.6 million in state and local taxes. About $820 million is spent by tourists in Hamilton County, which is ranked No. 3 in the state for total visitor spending.