The economic impact of historic preservation

By Mike Switzer

Published May 2, 2024 at 6:30 AM EDT

Donovan Rypkema with PlaceEconomics in Washington, D.C.

Tax credits and tourism are just two reasons why many cities and towns are interested in preserving historic sites and structures. Last year, Historic Columbia commissioned our next guest’s company to conduct a study on the economic impact of historic preservation on our capital city. Mike Switzer interviews Donovan Rypkema with PlaceEconomics in Washington, D.C.

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Mike Switzer

After almost 20 years, Mike Switzer retired from Wells Fargo Securities in 2001 as Senior Vice President/Investment Officer and Certified Portfolio Manager. In 1999, he and his wife, Maggie, purchased and operated for eight years the Baskin Robbins ice cream store on Forest Drive in Columbia. They grew the store from a bottom-tier operation in the Baskin Robbins franchise system to one in the top 5% nationwide within three years, tripling sales along the way. While operating the ice cream store, Mike and Maggie received patents for a portable ice cream sink and fold-down sneezeguard they invented and in 2002 started Magnolia Carts, an ice cream cart manufacturing company, which they sold in 2013.

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