A local study of the economic impact of Historic Preservation and Heritage Tourism was released today during a public presentation at the Embassy Theatre, 125 W. Jefferson Blvd.

The report, “Preservation is About the Future: The Economic Impact of Historic Preservation and Heritage Tourism in Fort Wayne,” was presented by Donovan Rypkema of PlaceEconomics, an internationally recognized firm that provides analysis of the economic impacts of historic preservation. The event was part of the Indiana State Historic Preservation Conference, “Preserving Historic Places,” taking place September 30 - October 3 in Fort Wayne.

Key findings of the study include:

• Since 2001, investments in local historic tax credit rehabilitation projects reached $340 million and supported 258 jobs annually.
• In 2024, heritage visitors spent more than $313 million in Fort Wayne, supporting approximately 3,000 year-round jobs.
• In 2024, the average home value in local historic districts was 13 percent higher than the rest of the city.
• Housing in historic districts have a range of types and costs, making them accessible to households of all incomes. For example, 61 percent of households in local districts earn less than the city’s median income.
• Even excluding the banner year of 2024 with the Electric Works project, over the last 15 years an average of 139 direct jobs and an additional 90 indirect and induced jobs were created by investment in Fort Wayne’s historic districts. If historic rehabilitation were a single business, it would be among the largest 50 industries in Fort Wayne.

“Fort Wayne’s commitment to historic preservation has fostered job creation, tax revenue and investment while also supporting diverse, affordable housing options in walkable, high-density neighborhoods,” said Rypkema. “Fort Wayne’s heritage tourism destinations add to the quality of life for residents and boost the local economy.”

The Historic Preservation and Heritage Tourism study was made possible by funding from the City of Fort Wayne, the Efroymson Family Fund, the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center and Visit Fort Wayne.

The full study can be found at https://engage.cityoffortwayne.org/economic-impacts-historic-preservation-heritage-tourism-study or visit https://Engage.CityofFortWayne.org and search for historic preservation study. A summary with key facts is attached, as is a photo of the cover of the report.