BOSTON – A recently concluded study by the New England Nursery Association shows the New England environmental horticulture industry contributes $4 billion a year to the regional economy – continuing its history of growth even in a sagging economy.
"Despite tough economic times, the industry is thriving," shared Jesse O'Brien, president of the association. "We are providing good jobs, paying good wages. Tax revenues from the green industry continue to rise, supporting state and local governments. As a whole, green industry income in New England has risen 10 percent over the past three years. And we continue to protect and beautify the environment – keeping more than 177,000 acres of New England in agriculture – 75,000 of which is open space."
According to O'Brien, "At a time when consumers are spending less on things like restaurant meals and on household furnishings, it is very encouraging to see the kind of success the green industry in enjoying. People in New England are obviously willing to invest in green space. We employ more than 131,000 people in the region and estimate that there are at least another 36,000 more jobs – full time, part time and seasonal – that still need to be filled."
Regionally, the environment horticulture industry pays an estimated $2.24 billion in wages, and generates approximately $4 billion in gross income, according to the survey, which was conducted by University of Vermont professor Leonard Perry and University of Maine Professor Lois Berg Stack.
"That's a growth in income of 10 percent and a growth in wages of 33 percent since the most recent survey was done three years ago," O'Brien noted. "All in all, throughout New England, the environmental horticulture industry remains a strong contributor to the local economy, involving, as it does, many long-time, family-owned businesses. Of the businesses surveyed, two-thirds of all firms saw their income increase since the previous survey, and those increases have averaged 31 percent per firm."
For specific findings in each state, visit www.NensyAssn.org.
The author is Managing Editor of Lawn & Landscape magazine and can be reached at nwisniewski@lawnandlandscape.com.