Families may come to the Children’s Museum of Pooler to play, learn and explore, but a new study shows their impact reaches well beyond the Museum’s doors. 

A 2026 economic impact analysis conducted by Georgia Southern University’s Center for Business Analytics and Economic Research (CBAER) estimates that the Children’s Museum of Pooler generates $8.70 million in annual economic output across the regional economy. The activity associated with the Museum also contributes approximately $4.98 million in value added, supports 85 jobs and generates $2.87 million in labor income. 

The study, commissioned by the Children’s Museum of Pooler, examined both museum operations and spending by visitors from outside Pooler. CBAER used visitor survey data, museum expenditures and the IMPLAN economic impact model to estimate how that spending moves through the local economy. 

While the economic impact is significant, the study also points to a broader role for the Children’s Museum: it is helping bring families to Pooler. Among non-local visitors surveyed, 81% said the Children’s Museum was their primary reason for coming to the area. Most came from other parts of Chatham County and nearby Bryan, Effingham and Liberty counties, but the Children’s Museum also attracted visitors from other parts of Georgia, South Carolina and other states. 

That matters because many of those visitors do more than visit the Children’s Museum. Nearly 64% of visitor groups reported shopping at Tanger Outlets during their trip, while more than 62% ate at local restaurants. Others reported shopping at additional locations, visiting local parks, going to the movies and visiting other museums in the area. 

In other words, a trip that begins at the Children’s Museum often becomes a larger day out in Pooler. That additional activity translates into spending throughout the community. Day-trip groups reported spending an average of $164 per day, with retail shopping and food and beverages accounting for the largest portions of that spending. Groups staying overnight (18.5% of non-Pooler visitors) reported spending an average of $625 per day, including lodging, dining, retail shopping, entertainment and other attractions. 

“This study gives us the opportunity to see that impact through another lens. It shows that the Children’s Museum is not only an educational resource for children and families, but an economic asset that brings people to Pooler and contributes to the community around us. To know that we have created this level of impact without yet having a permanent home makes us incredibly hopeful about what the future could hold,” said Crystal Daniels, executive director of the Children’s Museum of Pooler.

The findings also suggest that the Children’s Museum is building lasting relationships with families. About 33.7% of non-local visitors had visited the Children’s Museum six or more times before, while 27.8% were visiting for the first time. The mix of repeat and new visitors indicates that the Museum continues to draw new families while maintaining a strong base of returning guests. 

The Children’s Museum's current location at Tanger Outlets has served children and families since it opened in March 2020. The venue provides a place for children from Pooler and surrounding coastal communities to learn and grow, while also serving as one stop on a larger trip to Pooler, which frequently includes shopping, dining and other activities in the area. 

The 2026 study was based in part on a visitor survey conducted from June 8 through July 20, 2026. CBAER collected 648 responses and, after removing invalid responses, analyzed 395 valid surveys. Respondents provided information about where they traveled from, the length of their trip, group characteristics, spending habits and other activities they participated in while visiting the Pooler area. 

Taken together, the findings show that the Children’s Museum of Pooler is doing more than providing a place for children to use their imaginations to explore and discover. It is also attracting families to Pooler, encouraging them to spend time throughout the community and contributing millions of dollars in economic activity to the region.