Outdoor Recreation Booming, But Federal Help Still Needed for the Small Businesses That Rely On It, Notes Senate Committee

Outdoor recreation remains one of the most vibrant sectors of the nation’s economy, representing upwards of $862 million in spending last year.

That statistic was presented in a hearing before the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship exploring the economic impact derived from the millions of Americans who annually visit parks and forests, camp out, and buy needed goods for such outings.

“The outdoor economy is outpacing the rest of the American economy,” remarked New Hampshire Democrat Jeanne Shaheen, who is the chairperson of the committee.

Shaheen additionally noted that while the country’s overall economy saw a Gross Domestic Product increase of 5.9% in 2021, the GDP for the outdoor economy was a vibrant 19.9%.

“The outdoor recreation economy is built by small businesses and entrepreneurs,” the New Hampshire Senator continued, noting that because the outdoor economy is driven by such businesses, it has become a “foundational part of many rural communities and is critical to their well-being.”

Earlier this year legislation was introduced in the Senate designed to improve infrastructure as it serves the nation’s recreational areas, while also promoting public/private partnerships spearheaded by the Interior Department to modernize campgrounds on federal land.

The legislation, America’s Outdoor Recreation Act of 2023, additionally calls for supporting rural communities adjacent to recreation areas by providing both financial and technical assistance to such local businesses as restaurants, hotels, and campgrounds.

In testimony before the Small Business Committee, Iowa Republican Senator Jodi Ernst maintained that a small business can be found “operating in every sector of the outdoor economy.”

For all of that, Ernst continued: “Small businesses in the outdoor economy are pummeled by inflation and rising gas prices.”

A series of witnesses appearing before the committee urged Congress to provide greater funding for small businesses that are a part of the outdoor economy, while also reducing conservation program regulations.

In its legislative efforts, Congress in the months ahead should focus on improving infrastructure on public lands, said Jessica Wahl Turner, president of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable.

Wahl Turner additionally called for increasing a workforce pipeline for “communities utilizing recreation to revitalize their economies.”

​By Garry Boulard

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