Understanding
Our Roots
Long Live the Great Outdoors.
New Hampshire has long dealt with the double-edged sword that is its natural resources. On the one hand it is blessed with storied landscapes attracting generations of visitors. On the other hand, it wrestles with a legacy of overuse, speculation, and outworn industry.
Exacerbating the latter are the recent impacts of COVID-19 including population growth, remote workforce, lack of employees and affordable housing, broadband, and of course the rampant disregard for the environment. The time to band together and recalibrate toward a responsible outdoor economy is long overdue. That time is now.
So here we are. Individuals. Businesses. Trail Organizations. The outdoor community. We are taking a stand because we all have a responsibility to protect and preserve the places we love, which just also happens to be the places we live, work, and play.
This is New Hampshire. Our home. Let’s write our destiny together.
#ADVENTUREFREE
INDUSTRY.
Outdoor recreation is a newly recognized economic powerhouse contributing $1.1 trillion to the Nation’s economy and 4.5 million jobs across the country. (BEA, 2022 Data)
New Hampshire’s outdoor economy contributed $3.3 billion to the statewide economy in 2022, 3.2% of the State’s GDP, which ranks 9th in the Nation. New Hampshire ‘s outdoor industry ranked 10th in the country in growth at 18.1% growth. Further, the outdoor economy in New Hampshire provided over 31,000 jobs and $1.5 billion in wages.
In 2019, New Hampshire became the 16th state in the US to approve of an Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry Development (ORID) to be housed within the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA). Granite Outdoor is excited to partner with the Office of ORID, which nicely complements the private sector efforts of Granite Outdoor in the public sector.
Together, we can do great things.
OUTDOOR ECONOMY.
Nearly half of all Americans participate in some form of outdoor recreation each year, whether it is part of an everyday trail-based lifestyle or a destination vacation to an area loaded with potential outdoor experiences. As residents or visitors continue to seek experiences outdoors, they continue to purchase new gear, travel to communities, camp or stay in hotels, frequent breweries, restaurants and coffee shops, ultimately infusing capital into local, state, and national economies. These like-minded pieces blend together to create a sustainable, organic economy, known as the “outdoor economy”.
For rural communities, the outdoor economy is the white knight to replace the mill economy and its way of life. Although not without its downsides, the outdoors is organic to these areas and can now be used as a tool for economic development, particularly in light of remote workforce and surging population growth, as younger workers desire to choose location over job.
Said another way, why leave when you can stay?
Outdoor Life, Everyday Life.
Reason.
To support the outdoors as a way of everyday life in New Hampshire.
Vision.
To promote outdoor recreation and support an inclusive, balanced, and passionate community of outdoor enthusiasts that live, work, and play together.
Mission.
To advance the outdoor industry forward toward a sustainable and responsible future by focusing on land conservation, economic development, education, and health & wellness.
VALUES AS HARD AS ROCK
Adventure.
Maintain the spirit of adventure in everything we do. It’s what got us here in the first place.
Inclusivity.
We are equals. Mandatory for participation in the outdoor recreation space.
Grassroots.
Inspire ground-level momentum from the bottom up by building a core ethic that spans from the trails to the workplace in creating vibrant communities .
Community.
The outdoor eco-system depends on collaboration, shared resources, and creating local wealth, all to benefit the outdoor community.
Connectivity.
We live in a world that is supposedly connected. But is it? Let’s reconnect in old school ways and drive awareness to important issues.
Sustainability.
Let’s make it last. Outdoor recreation is in our DNA. Smart policy and advocacy will ensure our playgrounds are preserved for future generations.
BEDROCK. The 4 Pillars of GOA.
Economic Development.
Promoting economic development through coordination with outdoor recreation stakeholders, and leveraging outdoor recreational infrastructure and industry to promote tourism and recruit talent with a goal of keeping wealth local.
Land Conservation & Stewardship.
Inspired by environments that provide for outdoor play, namely land and water, and leveraging these natural assets in a responsible way to recreate and support a way of life. Protection of land & water is critical to form the foundation of the outdoor economy.
Education & Workforce
Working with stakeholders and academic institutions to develop career and workforce training to recruit outdoor recreation businesses and provide a skilled, trained workforce.
Health & Wellness
Active outdoor lifestyles support healthy communities which thereby reduce health care dependencies and costs, create positive economic growth, reduce crime and other social benefits.
Learn More About Granite Outdoor
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors of Granite Outdoor are committed to you, the outdoors, and the future of New Hampshire.
Management
Pulling it all together isn’t always easy but Backyard Concept, LLC is the change agent needed. Check out who’s behind the wheel.
Rockfluencers
Meet the Hard Rockers that live the Granite Outdoor life. These influencers make a difference in the everyday and show us how balance can be achieved one step at a time.
