the Times Leader ran a front-page story on Oct. 18, 2025<\/a> \u2014 and Yarmel shared the study with current and prospective donors and sponsors and also utilized it to prepare a new strategic plan.<\/p>\n\u201cMost importantly, it was a proud moment for our staff that offered validation in our work and motivation to keep challenging ourselves,\u201d Yarmel said. \u201cOftentimes, a business or non-profit that does well can be taken for granted. The Kirby Center is celebrating our 40th anniversary this year, and it feels like we continue to get better and better each year. Words can only do so much \u2014 it\u2019s data that tells the story. We reached out to the Institute to see what our story was, and we were thrilled with the results from the study.\u201d<\/p>\n
Yarmel told the crowd that the study was vital to the work being done at the Kirby Center.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt highlights the visitor traffic that we\u2019re bringing into restaurants, staying in hotels, and shopping in our local area,\u201d Yarmel said. \u201cThe data provided to us is shared with loyal and prospective donors, letting them know that they aren\u2019t just supporting the arts at the F.M. Kirby Center \u2014 they\u2019re supporting our entire community and local business.\u201d<\/p>\n
And Yarmel said The Institute study prepared the Kirby Center for a new strategic plan on areas they were doing well and areas that they could now afford to challenge themselves with.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost importantly, it gave our staff the validation we needed and the motivation to do even better \u2014 not only for the F.M. Kirby Center, but for our community and local partners,\u201d Yarmel said.<\/p>\n
The Institute study found that the Kirby Center\u2019s operations, visitor spending, and final phase of renovations:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Supported nearly 200 jobs.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Contributed more than $7.9 million to regional GDP.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Generated more than $2 million in tax revenue.<\/p>\n
The Institute study also reported that the historic downtown venue hosted 110 performances and events \u2014 attracting nearly 80,000 visitors, with approximately 12% traveling from out of state, spending on local dining, lodging, and retail throughout the region.<\/p>\n
Importantly, the study showed that all contractors hired for the final phase of flood and capital repairs were based in Luzerne County, ensuring that the recovery investment remained within the local community.<\/p>\n
The study underscored the F. M. Kirby Center\u2019s role as a vital cultural and economic catalyst in Northeastern Pennsylvania, demonstrating how investment in the arts drives job creation, tourism, and local business growth.<\/p>\n
The Institute\u2019s critical role<\/p>\n
The Institute is a nonprofit economic and social innovation research and policy organization dedicated to empowering business and community leaders with research-based strategies for informed decision-making.<\/p>\n
The Institute conducts independent, unbiased research to identify opportunities, issues, and challenges unique to the region and to develop innovative solutions to address the problems facing our communities.<\/p>\n
The Institute also offers a wide array of research, consulting, and support services to help organizations boost productivity, increase profitability, and be successful in their missions\/<\/p>\n
Diamond City Partnership\u2019s Newman agrees<\/p>\n
Larry Newman, executive director of the Diamond City Partnership, was at Tuesday\u2019s event and agreed with everything Yarmel said about the critical role The Institute plays in driving economic growth in four NEPA counties.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think of The Institute as a regional data aggregator,\u201d Newman said. \u201cThey basically assemble all of this data about our region and present it in ways that allow it to be useful for decision-making \u2014 whether it\u2019s something occurring in the public sector, or by local businesses, or nonprofits like the F.M. Kirby Center.\u201d<\/p>\n
Newman said The Institute\u2019s work is of great benefit to the region. \u201cThe impact study The Institute did for the Kirby Center was great, and there is so much information they provide on a rolling basis for everyone to tap into.\u201d<\/p>\n
Newman said The Institute\u2019s website contains detailed information on so many topics that any issue can be researched, and the data is there to tap into.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe at DCP have found that information to be extremely useful, and this year\u2019s Indicators Report continues to provide comparative data for our region presented in one place.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Indicators Report is used to benchmark \u2014 to help all of us to better understand specific issues,\u201d Newman said. \u201cThe other thing is that the work of the Institute\u2019s Task Force is beneficial to bring forward issues that we as a region need to be thinking about in terms of policy making.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 2026 Indicators Report <\/p>\n
The report covers a multitude of issues and topics, and the Times Leader will continue to offer articles on each throughout the year. <\/p>\n
Reach Bill O\u2019Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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