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Eclipse boosts Monroe County sales tax revenue

One year later, sales tax numbers from the Eclipse show Monroe County got an economic boost. About 20,000 people from all 50 states and 30 countries came to Sweetwater.

One year later, sales tax numbers from the August 2017 total solar eclipse show Monroe County got an economic boost.

According to Sweetwater city leaders, Monroe County got $42,076 more in August 2017 sales tax revenue compared to August 2016. That means visitors spent about $1.75 million more in that month than the year before. Madisonville saw a 6 percent sales tax gain, and Tellico Plains saw 9 percent.

"That's a significant increase to a rural county like ours," Sweetwater City Recorder Jessica Morgan said.

About 20,000 people from all 50 states and 30 countries came to Sweetwater.

"We would be like, 'Have you ever heard of Sweetwater before the Eclipse?' And they'd be like, 'Nope, never have,'" Morgan said. "So you can't buy exposure like that, it was great."

Sweetwater leaders say they raised about $95,000 dollars in T-shirt and parking sales and emerged from the event with $18715.86 in profit. That is paying for capital improvements such as new pavement, a new city clock and a downtown lot the city will lease to vendors. The city will reveal the new clock in a Reclipse festival on Tuesday.

Morgan says the Eclipse made an impact on the business community.

Diana Osbrink owns Sweetwater Antiques and says the shop saw its best earnings ever.

"That one day represented more than 25 percent of what we normally earn in a week," Osbrink said.

Tsali Notch manager JD Dalton said he wants to figure out a way to recreate the Eclipse.

"It's definitely right up there with the best day ever," Dalton said.

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