a way forward
There’s no shortage of outdoor recreation in the Pine Tree State, but there’s still plenty of potential. That’s why we’re blazing a trail for Maine’s outdoor recreation economy — not only to sustain it, but to help it grow for years to come.
The Roadmap is a guide for thinking about the next ten years of Maine’s $3.4B (and growing!) outdoor recreation industry. It will identify trends, challenges, and opportunities for sustainable growth and diversification of the outdoor recreation economy.
Read the executive summary and leave feedback on draft action items at the link below.
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Latest NEWS
In the News
A partnership to connect asylum-seekers with outdoor spaces and a startup that makes AI-powered bike lights are among the recipients of Maine Outdoor Brands’ Trailblazer Awards this year…
In the News
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) has released economic data for 2023 exhibiting outdoor recreation’s positive impact on the U.S. economy…
In the News
The conference comes as ski resorts open with new investments and plans for infrastructure resilience.
In the News
The Wabanaki Nations will now be able to contract with Acadia National Park to collect sweetgrass, which is used in tribal ceremonies and basket making…
In the News
A new breed of libraries is making the great outdoors even more accessible to Mainers…
In the News
It is a bold choice to make your state’s motto “Vacationland.”
In the News
"I can shop and fix my awesome wallet, so I'm super psyched," Alison Hamlin said…
In the News
For more than 100 years L.L. Bean has been a name synonymous with the great outdoors. Shawn Gorman, the great-grandson of the founder, sits down with TODAY’s AL Roker to dive into the brand's history and its commitment to service...
In the News
Today, the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) and U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development (RD) announced $1.9 million in funding for economic-development projects in Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont…
In the News
To remedy the problem, Friends of Acadia announced Wednesday a "Raise the Roof" campaign to start creating new bunk houses…
In the News
The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) hosted the first-ever National Outdoor Recreation Executive Forum in the nation’s capital yesterday. The forum followed a meeting on Monday with key White House officials around the economic impact of the outdoor recreation industry on the U.S. economy.
In the News
Proposed federal legislation would allow the National Park Service to acquire up to 2,465 acres from willing landowners to improve transportation in and out from Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, according to a spokesperson with the office of U.S. Sen. Angus King.
In the News
The next engagement phase of the Roadmap project is a series of in-person workshops aroundspecific topics that have emerged through data analysis and interviews. The sessionsare facilitated, action-oriented workshops that will help build ideas into concretestrategies to support the Roadmap.
In the News
Maine Outdoor Brands, the University of Maine, and the Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation have joined forces to initiate the Maine Outdoor Recreation Economy Roadmap, an initiative set to catalyze sustainable growth and diversification within Maine's vibrant outdoor recreation industry.
In the News
Outdoor recreation contributed $3.3 billion to Maine's economy in 2022 — nearly 4% of the gross domestic product — and now stakeholders have joined forces to grow the that amount. (Mainebiz)
In the News
Maine’s outdoor recreation economy surged 16.5% in 2022 to generate $3.3 billion in gross domestic product, a new report by the U.S. Department of Commerce shows. (Mainebiz)
In the News
Outdoor recreation accounted for $3.3 billion in economic activity, or nearly 4% of the state's GDP. That's the 6th-highest percentage of any state. (Portland Press Herald)
In the News
Governor Mills has unveiled a new domestic trade program to help Maine businesses grow and thrive. The program itself is modeled off an initiative that helped outdoor rec company Flowfold “increase its exposure, strengthen brand recognition, and secure new sales outside of the state.”
In the News
The University of New England (UNE) recently announced a “new pioneering bachelor’s degree in outdoor business and innovation.” It’s a new first-of-its-kind major that will offer paid internships and experiential coursework to grow the next generation of leaders in Maine’s outdoor industry.