St. Paul's Como Zoo touts economic value in pitch for seal exhibit upgrade

A new study of the economic impact of Como Park Zoo and Conservatory shows that the zoo, its 94 full-time employees and its 2 million visitors pump nearly $163 million a year into the Minnesota economy — all from a zoo and botanical garden that charges no admission and is open 365 days a year.

"The message is that Como, even though we have been here for 100 years at no cost to people, we definitely have an impact on the state," said Michelle Furrer, Como Zoo's director. "We are stable and we are a thriving piece of the economy of the state."

Zoo officials hope that information helps persuade the Legislature to approve Como's $14.5 million bonding request for a new seals and sea lions exhibit. The current exhibit, which houses four harbor seals and two California sea lions at the former Monkey Island built in 1932, was converted for the sea lions in the late 1980s, Furrer said.

A new exhibit would give the animals an indoor-outdoor habitat to use year round. Currently, they are moved to indoor pools during the winter. The new habitat would have two saltwater pools, instead of the freshwater now used, to meet new federal requirements for keeping marine mammals. Officials say the new habitat will allow for better care, better training practices and better views than the existing aging spaces.

State Rep. Alice Hausman, DFL-St. Paul, said the zoo's bonding request has a good chance of winning approval, noting that during a committee hearing Thursday, numerous legislators praised Como.

"I think the advantage that Como has is that everybody's been there and it's so accessible," Hausman said. "More and more, this is the zoo that people can get to. And can afford."

According to the study, Como fuels 2,000 jobs — through spending by the zoo and its employees, and by what visitors spend in the area when they come to town. It is the state's second most-visited attraction. The study was conducted by Sapphire Consulting, a pro-bono group of business students from the University of Minnesota.

The zoo has a $7.7 million annual operating budget, 43 percent of which comes from the City of St. Paul; 21 percent from donations by zoo visitors; 11 percent from Como Friends, a charitable organization dedicated to Como; 16 percent from food sales and facility rentals, and 9 percent from the state.

Over the past 15 years, according to the report, Como, the state and Como Friends have invested $100 million in upgrading the zoo and conservatory, including a Visitor Center, the Ordway Gardens and expanded education programs that reach 600,000 learners a year. The Legislature in 2010 appropriated bonding money for the $11 million Gorilla Forest, which opened in 2013. The $15 million Polar Bear Odyssey, which opened in 2010, was paid for with a mix of public money and private fundraising.

Jackie Sticha, president of Como Friends, said she talks to many people who first came to Como as children, later brought their kids and later still visited with grandchildren. The challenge is keeping Como relevant to a 21st century audience.

"The nostalgia opens the door," she said. "But we have to compete every day with all of the other destinations in the Twin Cities and compete for families and family time."