Wright-Patterson Air Force Base — The 26th annual Air Force Marathon takes place this weekend. This represents a huge economic boost for the region.
About 8,000 runners will take part in the marathon on Saturday for the first time in three years. This is to commemorate his 75th anniversary in the United States Air Force.
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About 2,400 volunteers keep the entire weekend as planned.
“I have just returned from a virtual experience,” said Rachel Ferguson, Air Force Marathon Race Director.
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Thousands of volunteers, guests and runners will bring millions of dollars to the Dayton area this weekend.
Hotels are fully booked and restaurants are busy. This means people are spending money. This is the boost Dayton has needed since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
“Many of the vendors coming in for this purpose are from the suburbs, so they’re using things like hotels and restaurants to create more economic impact,” says Ferguson.
News Center 7 asked local businesses how this annual event helps their bottom line.
Wheat Penny executive chef Liz Valenti says the weekend is just getting started and she’s already seeing an uptick in customers and bookings.
“It’s still tough. We’re still only open five days a week. We’re hiring for one position and training for multiple positions,” says Valenti.
This weekend’s event is expected to bring in between $8 million and $12 million.
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