$50 million annually through fiscal 2028 for rural areas to upgrade outdoor recreation infrastructure such as boat ramps and trails, as well as help communities plan for the increased tourism and larger workforce the industry is expected to bring.
Outdoor recreation in the US, especially on public lands and waters, boomed during the Covid-19 pandemic, as Americans sought alternatives to indoor activities. The industry supported 4.5 million jobs and contributed about 1.9% to the nation’s gross domestic product in 2021, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Outdoor recreation also contributed about $862 billion in sales and revenue in 2021.
One commentator calls this bill the "recreation industry’s 'big play in the farm bill,'" because while "lawmakers introduced the measure as stand-along legislation...they are eyeing attaching it to broader bipartisan bills [including the farm bill] before year's end." Read more here from the New Mexico Political Report here.
The link between outdoor recreation and rural economies is explored in prior posts here, here, and here.
1 comment:
Hopefully planning for increased tourism and a larger workforce will include building more affordable housing in those communities. While it can be a much-needed boost to small town economies, it would be unfortunate for outdoor recreation tourism to lead to rural gentrification. It’s good to get more federal funding for improving infrastructure. As an avid camper, I’ve been to quite a few places that could use a fresh coat of paint (or more).
Post a Comment