Attracting cyclists is an economic boon to communities, especially rural towns:
A study of touring cyclists (PDF) who visited the state of Montana found that spending tracked at $75 per day and with an average of eight days spent in the state. Forty-one percent of the cyclists stayed in hotels/motels or bed & breakfasts, in addition to visiting historical sites, breweries, and wild-life watching. Cyclists stated that visiting small towns and enjoying the local hospitality were some of the highlights of their trip. This press release (PDF) sums up the findings nicely.
A small community investment put Twin Bridges, MT, on the map for cyclists traveling on the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail.
Farmington, MO, has accomplished the same kind of success with Al's Place — a cyclist-only hostel created by the City. As a result, Farmington has also attracted TransAmerica Cyclery to their community to serve local and touring cyclists.