Monday, January 18, 2010

KDA Releases Economic Impact Report.

This may not do anything for whiskey-lovers outside of Kentucky, but for better or worse America's whiskey industry is closely tied to the states of Kentucky and Tennessee.

The Kentucky Distillers Association (KDA) does a lot to promote the industry to the world, but it also looks out for its members interests within the Commonwealth.

The new, first-ever economic impact study was prepared by University of Louisville economist Paul Coomes. Here are a few highlights:

While other Kentucky manufacturers cut 20 percent of their jobs over the past decade, distilling employment grew by 6 percent.

Kentucky distilleries employ 3,200 people with an annual payroll of $244 million, plus benefits. They represent 43 percent of all distilling workers in the United States.

Each distilling job creates more than twice as many spin-off jobs as other Kentucky “signature” industries such as horse breeding, tobacco farming and coal mining.

More than $1.5 billion worth of bourbon is produced in Kentucky each year. It accounts for 26 percent of the value of all distilled spirits produced in the United States. Kentucky bourbon is exported to 126 countries.

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