Stroll on State reports strong economic impact

ROCKFORD, Jan. 28 — The Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau shared strong numbers from its Stroll on State survey results.

“Merry and Bright: A Downtown Holiday” was the theme of the Nov. 29 holiday event drawing 60,000 visitors in 2014, double the total from the inaugural 2013 year.

A sampling of stats from the 805 responses:

— 85 percent of attendees made a purchase while at Stroll on State, with the average amount spent at $25, meaning an estimated $750,000 impact.
— 86 percent said they had a good, very good or excellent time.
— 94 percent said they would come back downtown (prior to Stroll, 60 percent of guests reported having a neutral or negative perception of downtown).