While millions visit the Ark, Grant County is sinking fast trying to avoid bankruptcy

While millions visit the Ark, Grant County is sinking fast, trying to avoid bankruptcy, offering no amenities

it’s possible that Grant County has touched bottom. The county, which lies midway between Cincinnati and Lexington, almost ran out of money this spring, which would have prompted a state takeover.

In March, county officials approved a 2 percent payroll tax on local workers. This will bring in more than $3 million in the coming year, enough to avoid bankruptcy. But things will still be a bit dicey. Collection of the new tax won’t start until the beginning of the fiscal year, July 1 — the same day the county faces a $500,000 payment on the debt it owes for jail operations.

“We think we can make it to the end of the fiscal year,” says County Judge Executive Steve Wood, “but we may have to take out a loan.”

While accurate...the headline would lead one to believe the Ark and Grant County fiscal issues are related when, in fact, they are not, other than the fact that eventually the visitors may bring in additional revenues.

Head line makes it look like the two go hand in hand, when they don't appear to at all.

The correlation is there because Grant Co. thought the Ark was going to be their savior money wise.

Here is the Ark connection from the article:

For a while, the county thought Noah’s Ark would save them. Desperate for a new revenue source, local officials gave hefty land grants and tax incentives to the Ark Encounter, a religious theme park that includes a “life-sized reconstruction” of Noah’s ship, along with a creation museum. The park opened last July, but due to the tax breaks, it hasn’t translated into any sort of public revenue windfall for the county.

Visitors to the Ark complex also haven’t been spending as much money as had been initially hoped. In part, that’s because there are few other attractions nearby to entice them to stay. There also aren’t enough hotel rooms to accommodate tourists or restaurants to draw them into local business districts.

“We haven’t had anything really built yet,” Wood says. “That was probably wrong on our part.”

With perhaps a million Ark visitors now expected annually, things might be starting to change. The city of Dry Ridge has just announced that two new hotels will be built over the coming year, along with some new restaurants. If tourists can be convinced to visit Grant County downtowns when they come to see the boat, that should bring in a few more dollars to help the county balance its books.

I read that they still believe it will be when there is additional infrastructure...ie. hotels, that cause people to spend more money in the county.

While accurate...the headline would lead one to believe the Ark and Grant County fiscal issues are related when, in fact, they are not, other than the fact that eventually the visitors may bring in additional revenues.

No they wont, there is no where to spend their money, thats the issue at hand.

No they wont, there is no where to spend their money, thats the issue at hand.

Yes, I got that from the article....they are expecting hotel development in the area if I read correctly that will bring in revenue....eventually.

Here is the Ark connection from the article:

 

For a while, the county thought Noah’s Ark would save them. Desperate for a new revenue source, local officials gave hefty land grants and tax incentives to the Ark Encounter, a religious theme park that includes a “life-sized reconstruction” of Noah’s ship, along with a creation museum. The park opened last July, but due to the tax breaks, it hasn’t translated into any sort of public revenue windfall for the county.

 

Visitors to the Ark complex also haven’t been spending as much money as had been initially hoped. In part, that’s because there are few other attractions nearby to entice them to stay. There also aren’t enough hotel rooms to accommodate tourists or restaurants to draw them into local business districts.

 

“We haven’t had anything really built yet,” Wood says. “That was probably wrong on our part.”

 

With perhaps a million Ark visitors now expected annually, things might be starting to change. The city of Dry Ridge has just announced that two new hotels will be built over the coming year, along with some new restaurants. If tourists can be convinced to visit Grant County downtowns when they come to see the boat, that should bring in a few more dollars to help the county balance its books.

The man is an idiot, took him 10 months to figure this out? To busy researching the personal assets of his staff.

The only person making $$ is Mr Hamm

Yes, I got that from the article....they are expecting hotel development in the area if I read correctly that will bring in revenue....eventually.

Expecting is a big word, no contracts are signed to build anything, no land has been sold.

The only person making $$ is Mr Hamm

...and the employees that work for him.

Hotel development underway in Dry Ridge | GrantKY.com

Doesnt look like Dry Ridge is sinking fast. Why cant Williamstown figure it out.

They do have a Larrossa pizza place.

The church I preach at is about a two mile drive to the ark and I have never been to see it. I drive past it every time I go to church. The parking lot is big. The mexican restaurant seems busy.