Maine groups map out 10-year plan for state’s outdoor recreation sector
Photo / Courtesy Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation
A 10-year plan released Wednesday calls for for fostering diversity, inclusion and accessibly in Maine's outdoor recreation sector.
When it comes to outdoor recreation, Maine is the dream for many people looking for pristine environments to ski, sail, hike and more.
Spread across the state, the industry contributed $3.3 billion to Maine’s economy in 2023 — 3.7% of the gross domestic product — the sixth largest share in the nation.
Now a coalition of stakeholders is looking to grow that amount to $3.7 billion by 2035.
The effort is being led by Maine Outdoor Brands, Maine’s Office of Outdoor Recreation, the University of Maine, Maine’s Bureau of Parks and Lands, Maine Technology Institute and the Maine Marine Trades Association.
On Wednesday the coalition launched “Maine’s Outdoor Recreation Economy Roadmap,” a 10-year plan designed to bolster the industry through economic investments, workforce expansion and community revitalization.
“This roadmap is the collective vision of hundreds of Mainers — business owners, community leaders and outdoor enthusiasts — who shared their experiences and insights,” said Jenny Kordick, executive director of Maine Outdoor Brands. “It’s a strategic plan that honors our natural assets, creates new economic opportunities and preserves Maine’s outdoor legacy for future generations.”
Among its strategies for building the industry, the plan calls for collaboration among industry interests and creating “a compelling narrative” that resonates with a wide range of audiences — policymakers, consumers, investors, economic developers, entrepreneurs, educators and potential workers.
According to the plan, it’s essential to invest in modern, resilient infrastructure that meets the needs of current and future outdoor enthusiasts. That could include actions such as improving community walkability and bikeability, developing climate-resilient trail networks, expanding recreation areas and enhancing facilities such as parking, boat launches and toilet facilities to improve visitor experiences. An assessment would be needed of existing outdoor recreation infrastructure.
The plan calls for fostering diversity, inclusion and accessibly.
Four-season recreation
The plan calls for expanded programming to teach outdoor recreation skills and promote everyday access to four-season recreation and information about where to go and what to expect. Part of that is support for private landowners to maintain and improve recreational access.
Growing Maine’s outdoor recreation management and resource stewardship capacity would include a focus on increasing public education initiatives to promote responsible outdoor behavior, emphasizing safety, Leave No Trace principles and respectful interactions with wildlife and other recreationists.
Outdoor recreation initiatives are considered a key piece to community development and economic growth. The plan calls for strengthening municipalities’ and local planning entities’ research and implementation capacity, while also enhancing and connecting communities’ outdoor recreation infrastructure and destination assets to downtowns, schools and local neighborhoods.
Innovation
The industry is ripe for innovation, the plan says. To that end, it will be important to strengthen support for starting and scaling outdoor recreation companies, along with innovation and research and development for outdoor recreation companies, as a hub for outdoor recreation businesses, by offering support for startups and scaling companies, building tailored programs that address the needs of the outdoor industry.
As a shared entrepreneurial ecosystem, there's potential for outdoor recreation businesses and business support organizations to share resources, reduce costs, drive innovation and build scale., the report says. That includes bolstering climate resilience by helping businesses and organizations adapt their operations, infrastructure and offerings to withstand climate disruptions — such as expanding shoulder season activities and developing durable trail systems to handle increased heavy rainfall and flooding.
Diverse activities
The roadmap marks the first time Maine has defined outdoor recreation as a major economic driver in such a broad and strategic way. The project was funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Grant program.
It encompasses manufacturing, retail, tourism, construction, professional services, lodging, arts and culture in its definition of the outdoor recreation economy.
With 30,000 workers in 2023, the economy comprises workers across the private, public and nonprofit sectors, making up about 4.5% of statewide employment. Maine employs a higher share of people in the outdoor recreation economy than many other states, ranking seventh nationally for the percentage of wage and salary employment in outdoor recreation.
“This roadmap highlights the importance of strategic partnerships and sustainable practices, ensuring Maine remains a leader in outdoor recreation and economic opportunity for generations to come,” said Jake Ward, University of Maine’s vice president for strategic partnerships and innovation.
The roadmap was developed with input from stakeholders spanning interviews, focus groups, roadshow stops and engagement with more than 200 industry leaders across 31 cities and towns in 16 Maine counties.
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