The Economic Impact of the Health Sector on the Economy of Allamakee County, Iowa a

• Main Authors: Daniel Otto, Georgeanne Artz B
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Postville
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.620.6966; http://www.idph.state.ia.us/hpcdp/common/downloads/allamakeecountyeconimpact.pdf

The importance of medical and health facilities as community service providers is well established, yet their role in generating significant economic impacts for the community is less often acknowledged. Health care facilities, such as hospitals and nursing homes, not only employ many people with a sizeable payroll, but also draw a large number of people from rural areas into the community for medical services. In this study, we attempt to identify and measure the economic importance of the health sector for the economy of Allamakee County, Iowa. The specific objectives of this report are to: 1. summarize the direct economic activities of the health sector; 2. review concepts of community economics and multipliers related to healthcare; and 3. estimate the secondary impacts of the health sector on Allamakee County’s economy. County Demographic and Economic Data This section will illustrate the population and employment patterns for Allamakee County. Table 1 presents the population figures for Allamakee County. In 1990, the population of Allamakee County was 13,855. By 2000, the county population had increased to 14,675. The population of Waukon, the county seat, was 4,019 in 1990 and increased slightly to 4,131 in 2000. Postville, the next largest