Feb 21, 2023

CORRECTED: Saline Co. GDP grows; Salina sees population increase

Posted Feb 21, 2023 4:37 PM

CORRECTION: The Salina Area Chamber of Commerce has corrected the Salina population increase number. That correction is reflected below.

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Salina Area Chamber of Commerce

The Salina Area Chamber of Commerce has announced that the Saline County economy grew by 12.4 percent from 2020 to 2021, hitting a record high of more than $3 billion total. This change amounts to an addition of $341 million to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP); a number that surpasses the highest growth of recent record in 2017 when the GDP increased by 7.3 percent or $116 million.

“We can’t stress enough what a huge win this is for our growth and overall economic health,” said Renee Duxler, Salina Area Chamber interim president & CEO. “It truly speaks to the public and private partnerships and investments that Salina and Saline County have made over the last few years, and the dedication of community and business leaders working toward a shared vision for progress.”

Charts courtesy Salina Area Chamber of Commerce
Charts courtesy Salina Area Chamber of Commerce

While other Kansas counties saw growth, comparatively Saline County saw the highest percentage change in growth. Shawnee County (Topeka) GDP went up 10.2 percent, Sedgwick County (Wichita) increased by 9.1 percent, Riley County (Manhattan) by 8.7 percent, and Reno County (Hutchinson) by 8.6 percent.

Saline County’s economy did contract in 2020 by 1.1 percent during the height of business shutdowns, after seeing incremental gains in 2018 and 2019 of 3.3 percent and 2.1 percent growth, respectively. The drastic growth seems to be indicative of high demands for goods and services, including housing and retail trade. Manufacturing, real estate, health care, and retail trade make up over 55 percent of the GDP for the county.

But while incremental growth was seen in all of these top industries, it was the arts, entertainment and recreation industry that saw the most astonishing increase, with a jump of 72.5 percent — from $8 million to $13.8 million — between 2020 to 2021. The highest annual impact for this industry on the GDP prior was $9.9 million total in 2014, and its never increased by more than $500,000 year-over-year.

“This is exciting news, particularly as it demonstrates how our arts, entertainment and recreation sector is recovering from the pandemic,” said Sylvia Rice, director of Visit Salina. “Coupled with the significant investments to enhance recreational facilities and revitalize downtown, Salina/Saline County is promoted as a destination and is drawing visitors who bring new dollars to the area. This is all generating very healthy economic growth.”

Other positive news for Salina includes the first net growth in population since 2012. While a nominal increase of 207 people from 2020-2021, it marks the first time Salina hasn’t lost population in almost a decade.

“We’re hopeful that this is marking a change in the tide,” Duxler said, “I think we’re all feeling proud about the energy and the partnership and the diligent work that has been put into Salina these last few years. It’s great to have some hard data that tells us we’re moving in the right direction.”

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Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data provided is from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and compiled by Chmura Economics & Analytics. Population data is from the Kansas Division of the Budget, Certified Population Data.