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Weather and workforce shape Sandusky economy; Hammack hears from business leaders
Beth Hammack, president and CEO of the Cleveland Fed, visited Sandusky to meet with local business leaders, attend a roundtable, and tour downtown.
Much like a rollercoaster, Sandusky’s economy sees ups and downs.
Sitting on Lake Erie between Cleveland and Toledo, the city draws visitors with its lakefront location, high-speed thrills, and family activities.
Beth Hammack takes a quick photo of Cedar Point, an amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio, which opened in 1870.
Hammack (center) and Davonta Milbry (left), education outreach coordinator at the Cleveland Fed, chat with Dawn Weinhardt (right), vice president of operations at Shores & Islands Ohio, while on the ferry from downtown Sandusky to Cedar Point.
According to business and community leaders, Sandusky’s economy depends more heavily on good weather and strong tourism than many other metro areas in the region served by the Cleveland Fed (the Fourth Federal Reserve District).
But not everything is tied to sun and fun. Beth Hammack, the Cleveland Fed’s president and CEO, saw many different sides of the city’s economy in May when she met with local business leaders to discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping Sandusky’s economy.
Local voices informing national policy
At a roundtable President Hammack attended with Sandusky area leaders, one business owner shared that given a particularly cold winter, tourism and recreation demand had decreased. That meant his three businesses’ annual revenue had declined by between 5 and 12 percent.
Others noted challenges familiar across the Fourth District: Food and fuel costs are up, consumers are spending less, and affordable housing remains hard to find.
A local restaurant owner shared an example: The price of 15 dozen eggs, typically $13 for them, surged to $125 in 2024. He mentioned that beef prices have also been on the rise.
Hammack greets McKenzie Spriggs, senior director of destination management at the Greater Sandusky Partnership. Also pictured, from left to right, are Eric Wobser, chief executive officer at the Greater Sandusky Partnership, and Andrew Bennett from the Cleveland Fed.
Hammack learns about downtown Sandusky’s history and ongoing developments from Tom Horsman, communications manager for the City of Sandusky.
President Hammack finished her Sandusky visit with a walking tour of the city’s downtown. Many of the historic buildings downtown are adorned with murals painted in vibrant colors. During the tour, local leaders described revitalization, programming, and investment efforts.
Hammack chats with two Greater Sandusky Partnership attendees—Lee Alexakos, director of public affairs, and Matt Lasko, chief development officer—following the Sandusky business leader roundtable.
These perspectives matter. President Hammack told roundtable attendees that it’s important for her to hear what’s happening on the ground in the Fourth District economy.
“I love it when things are working well, but I need to know when they’re not,” Hammack told the assembled business leaders.
About President Beth M. Hammack’s Around the District tour
President Hammack is visiting communities across the Fourth District as part of her Around the District tour to meet and connect with the people who live and work in all corners of the region and to gain a better understanding of how the economy is working in different communities. The Cleveland Fed, with branches in Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, serves an area that comprises Ohio, western Pennsylvania, eastern Kentucky, and the northern panhandle of West Virginia. Hammack will use this information to inform her policy views and better represent the Fourth District around the Federal Open Market Committee table.
Related resources
President and CEO
Learn about the work of Beth M. Hammack, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.
Beth M. Hammack
Beth M. Hammack is the president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, one of 12 regional Reserve Banks in the Federal Reserve System.