Economic Impact

The once financially-troubled Bon Secours Baltimore Health System now contributes $226.3 million to the city's economy, a new analysis has found. The analysis, done by Richard Clinch, director of Economic Research at the Jacob France Institute at the University of Baltimore, looked at the economic impact of the hospital's direct services and indirect effects.  It found that Bon Secours supports 1,532 jobs that provide $94 million in annual compensation.

Baltimore has landed its largest medical convention ever. The American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, which will meet here in 2008, is expected to draw 10,000 people to the city and have an economic impact of about $24 million. "That's major league," said Carroll R. Armstrong, president and chief executive officer of the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association. "We are demonstrating that we know how to do this." This win comes on the heels of BACVA's announcement last summer that the Shriners will hold their annual meeting in Baltimore over the Fourth of July holiday 2005.

Et tu, Dutch? Count Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger -- senior Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, one of just eight lawmakers briefed on the nation's biggest security secrets -- among those who keep saying "Obama" when they mean "Osama. " He made the slip twice in the space of an hour Friday during an appearance at the Oak Crest Retirement Community in Baltimore County, The Sun's Yeganeh June Torbati reports. "If Obama only knew how much he has affected our country -- he has cost us billions of dollars," Ruppersberger said at one point, referring to the economic impact of the war on terrorism.

The Carroll County Farmer's Market marked its 42nd anniversary Saturday with a bounty of seasonal fruits and vegetables, baked goods, fresh flowers, handmade crafts, even emu products. Because it was a party, customers were treated to punch and cake. The market, which opens from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays through Sept. 1, includes a cafeteria serving breakfast and lunch. Each week features a different demonstration, and Master Gardeners are always in attendance to offer advice on planting and growing problems.

Baltimore has landed its biggest convention ever - the Shriners' annual meeting, expected to attract as many as 30,000 people in the summer of 2005. The Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association announced yesterday that the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine will gather over the Fourth of July holiday for an event expected to contribute $30 million in direct spending and have an economic impact of $60 million on the region's economy. "This is big," said David DuBois, president and chief executive officer of the Professional Convention Management Association, which represents more than 5,000 meeting professionals worldwide.

In an about-face, the organizers of the Grand Prix of Baltimore say they will release ticket-sales information for the Labor Day weekend event. J.P. Grant , a partner in the firm that put on the race, said Thursday the group also will commission an economic impact study. He said he decided such information is valuable for the public - and the business itself - to see. "More information is better than less," said Grant, the money-man behind Race On LLC, who swept in to salvage the racing festival three months ago. "This is our baseline year.

Michael Dresser's recent article entitled "Rally urges Red Line jobs for Baltimoreans" (Aug. 5) raises an important issue. As our regional and national economies continue their emergence from the depths of the Great Recession, we must focus on infrastructure projects that will promote large-scale job growth. Clearly, the Red Line is a great example of such a project. Late last year, the University of Baltimore's Jacob France Institute conducted a study to determine the likely economic impact of the Red Line transit project.

From his Los Angeles office, Ken Haber plans to tip the Maryland Film Office to new work in films and television before the competition hears about it, hoping to boost the economic impact of the film industry on the state by millions of dollars in the next few years. Haber, 44, a location manager with 24 years' experience, will have a one-person office in Benedict Canyon, Calif., north of Beverly Hills. That office will operate on a budget of $100,000. "I will be able to find out about jobs that the office here would not normally be able to find out about until days or weeks later," he said.

When nine sleek racing yachts sail up the Chesapeake Bay in a day or two, they will bring a potential economic impact of more than $28 million and the promise of worldwide publicity that may attract new visitors and businesses for years to come -- and may even help secure an Olympic bid."It is the kind of exposure for the Chesapeake Bay area that we couldn't possibly afford," said Dean Kenderdine, assistant secretary for the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development.Some Maryland officials view the cooperation that Baltimore and Annapolis show during the Whitbread Round the World Race as proof of an ability to organize, provide security, win sponsors and thrive in a global spotlight.

Organizers of what would have been one of Baltimore's largest conventions ever have pulled out of a summer meeting here, saying it would not be appropriate to call on Washington and New York for financial support in light of the terrorism attacks of Sept. 11. The Church of God in Christ Auxiliaries in Ministry had been expected to draw 25,000 people to Baltimore between July 1 and July 6. Instead, the group will hold its meeting in Indianapolis. "We like Baltimore a lot," Bishop J.W. Macklin, chairman of the Hayward, Calif.