Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry contributes hundreds of millions into the Bluegrass economy, according to a new study released by the Kentucky Distillers Association.
The study – conducted by Dr. Paul Coomes, an economist at the University of Louisville – found that distillers help create about 10,000 jobs with an annual payroll of $442 million, generate $125 million a year in taxes and have helped Kentucky weather the recession through growth.
“Moreover,” said Coomes, “the market for Bourbon is growing and Kentucky distillers have been adding jobs this decade even as manufacturing employment overall is down.”
That growth has helped mitigate the economic and fiscal impact of the global recession on Kentucky, Coomes said, noting that distilling employment increased by 6 percent this decade while the manufacturing industry shed nearly 20 percent of its jobs.
Add Comment