Last week, outdoor industry and economic development leaders from 11 states – including North Carolina Governor, Roy Cooper, and Colorado Governor, John Hickenlooper – came together to collaborate on ways to promote the outdoor recreation industry’s continued growth. During the three-day conference, the delegation of state and industry leaders established a set of core principles in four areas, including: economic development; conservation and stewardship; education and workforce development; and public health and wellness.
Already a multibillion-dollar industry, outdoor recreation is well-recognized as a key driver of states’ economic sustainability, as well as the health and wellness of citizens nationwide. Outdoor recreation in North Carolina generates $28 billion in consumer spending, 260,000 direct jobs, $8.3 billion in wages and salaries and $1.3 billion in state and local tax revenue, according to the Outdoor Industry Association.
Will K. Morgan III, who together with Manning Fulton colleague John A. Hardin, led the effort to create the North Carolina Outdoor Recreation Coalition said of the conference, “North Carolina is home to a booming outdoor recreation industry, including manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and guide services. The success of this conference demonstrates that the outdoor recreation industry has gained recognition as a major economic driver in our state.”
For more information about the “Outdoor Industry Confluence,” please click here.
For more information about Manning Fulton’s leading Government Relations practice, please click here.