Historic Preservation and Jobs

• In Michigan, $1 million in building rehabilitation creates 12 more jobs than does manufacturing $1 million worth of cars;
• In West Virginia, $1 million of rehabilitation creates 20 more jobs than mining $1 million worth of coal;
• In Oklahoma, $1 million of rehabilitation creates 29 more jobs than pumping $1 million worth of oil;
• In Oregon, $1 million of rehabilitation creates 22 more jobs than cutting $1 million worth of timber;
• In Pennsylvania, $1 million of rehabilitation creates 12 more jobs than processing $1 million worth of steel;
• In California, $1 million of rehabilitation creates five more jobs than manufacturing $1 million worth of electronic equipment;
• In South Dakota, $1 million of rehabilitation creates 17 more jobs than growing $1 million worth of agricultural products;
• In South Carolina, $1 million of rehabilitation creates eight more jobs than manufacturing $1 million worth of textiles.

Excerpt from

Essay: Can Historic Preservation Help Lead Us Out of the Recession

Sept 28, 2009

-By James T. Kienle, FAIA