Note to all local retail businesses: People love to spend money in Brownfield!

During the meeting of the Brownfield Industrial Development Corporation (BIDCorp) Board of Directors Monday afternoon, new Executive Director David Partlow shared some data that shows Brownfield’s retail coffers received over $76 million in 2010.

The data was released by Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI). ESRI, located in Redlands, CA, is a software development and services company providing Geographic Information System (GIS) software and geodatabase management applications.

According to the report released last year, ESRI estimated that in 2010 a total of $53.1 million would be spent in Brownfield in Total Retail Trade and Food and Drink categories. However, the actual amount of money spent in Brownfield totaled $76.2 million, a retail gap of over $23 million.

The major categories of spending came in General Merchandise Stores ($15.6 million), Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers ($15.2 million), Health and Personal Care ($13.8 million), Food Services and Drinking Places ($11.6 million), Gasoline Stations ($7.9 million) and Food and Beverage Stores ($7.8 million).

The data was taken from both monthly and quarterly sales taxes reported to the State Comptroller’s Office during 2010 by the 69 local businesses listed in the various categories.

The money spent in Brownfield comes not only from local residents but also from visitors and motorists passing through Brownfield on the three major highways that pass through the city – US 62/82, US 380 and US 385.