For the first time, Fort Worth can put a dollar amount on the estimated economic impact of its longstanding Sister Cities program.
So far in 2016, it's $14 million.
A pilot study by ValueIdeas looked at Fort Worth, Nashville and Atlanta to determine the “impact of travel and tourism, foreign investments from sister cities, spending by students and adults on exchange programs, impact of volunteers, in-kind donations and more,” according to an official statement.
Fort Worth Sister Cities President and CEO Mae Ferguson said it's encouraging to see the real fruits of her labor, but she thinks the $14 million figure is likely low.
“I think that’s a very conservative estimation on the economic impact a program like Fort Worth has on the community,” she said.
Fort Worth has eight sister cities spread across four continents:
• Toluca, Mexico
• Trier, Germany
• Reggio Emilia, Italy
• Budapest, Hungary
• Mbabne, Swaziland
• Bandung, Indonesia
• Guiyang, China
• Nagaoka, Japan
