PRESS

U.S. OUTDOOR RECREATION INDUSTRY REACHES $1.2 TRILLION | November 20, 2024

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released annual data today exhibiting that outdoor recreation continues to be a major economic force for the U.S., generating $1.2 trillion in economic output and supporting 5 million jobs in 2023 – 3.1 percent of all employees in the country. In New Hampshire, outdoor recreation accounts for $3.9 billion, or 3.4 percent of the state’s gross domestic product (GDP), with the Granite State ranking 8th in the country for outdoor recreation as a percentage of GDP. This is the largest recorded measurement for New Hampshire since the BEA started collecting this data in 2012.  

Senator Hassan Supports Outdoor Recreation Economy Conway Daily Sun |August 7, 2024

GORHAM – U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) held a robust discussion with a cross-section of leaders on Monday morning, Aug. 5, on the key role that outdoor recreation plays in the Granite State’s overall economy. Estimates indicate that outdoor recreation now contributes more than $3 billion every year across the state, providing 31,000 jobs. Hassan met six experienced panelists in a large open-sided, timber-frame building at Camp Dodge, a well-equipped trails center built on the site of a former 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps camp. The organizations of Tyler Ray, who founded the Granite Outdoor Alliance, and Chris Thayer, who serves as director of government relations and partner relations for the AMC, are both experiencing some change. Ray discussed the importance of stewardship as the numbers of outdoor enthusiasts who come to the Granite State continue to increase.

Saco River Paddle Brings State Outdoor Industry Together| InDepthNH | July 19, 2024

CONWAY – Paddling together to help progress the state’s growing outdoor economy, about 50 individuals involved in the industry across the state came together on the Saco River Thursday to network, swim and enjoy dinner and music at the Beach. Granite Outdoor Alliance’s third annual Rocktails & Streams Saco Paddle brought state government interests, academics, ski industry officials, manufacturers of clothing and operators of various renewable energy services and guides mostly from the state’s North Country who are all working to get more people to come stay, play and work in the region.

GRANITE OUTDOOR HOSTS SACO PADDLE TO CONNECT OUTDOOR INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS| Press Release | July 8, 2024

Granite Outdoor Alliance (Granite Outdoor), a coalition of New Hampshire-affiliated outdoor businesses, public agencies, non-profits and individuals, is returning to the Saco River for a casual five-milecanoe paddle on Thursday, July 18, followed by dinner at The Beach Camping Area in Conway. Sponsored by Saco Canoe Rental Company, as well as Buena Gave and Tuckerman Brewing, the Saco Paddle gives attendees the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations about promoting a sustainable outdoor economy and supporting inclusive, balanced, and passionate communities centered around outdoor recreation. 

U.S. OUTDOOR RECREATION INDUSTRY SOARS TO $1.1 TRILLION | Press Release | November 17, 2023

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) has released economic data for 2021 exhibiting outdoor recreation’s powerful and positive economic impact on the U.S. economy. The numbers show outdoor recreation generates $862 billion in economic output and 4.5 million jobs across the country, contributing more to the U.S. economy than oil and gas extraction, mining, and agriculture. Inflation-adjusted GDP for the outdoor recreation economy increased 18.9 percent in 2021, compared with a 5.9 percent increase for the overall U.S. economy.

Outdoor lifestyle brands unite at GRANITEER festival| Union Leader | September 25, 2023

Partly an “Oktoberfest for the Outdoors” and a gathering for businesses and consumers, the Granite Outdoor Alliance’s Graniteer outdoor lifestyle and music festival, says Tyler Ray, is also a chance to learn how to profit in the growing outdoor economy and to protect the “golden goose” — the environment — that makes it possible.

Outdoor recreation industry teams with UNH, state to rev up ‘economic engine’ | NH Business Review | August 18, 2023

Outdoor recreation in New Hampshire accounts for a $2.8 billion impact on the local economy and about 28,000 jobs. That’s enough of a punch, according to advocates, to warrant funding for a University of New Hampshire graduate student fellow who will provide policy project support to elevate the outdoor economy in the Granite State.

Outdoor lifestyle brands unite at GRANITEER festival | NH Business Review | August 3, 2023

Down to Business Podcast: Tyler Ray, director of the Granite Outdoor Alliance, shares more about this year’s upcoming GRANITEER festival on Sept. 29 & 30 in Franconia. The festival is the first of its kind in New Hampshire, that brings together campers, hikers, runners, cyclists, skiers and climbers, plus workers, freelancers, employers, 2nd careerists and service professionals with a weekend of family fun, craft beer, inspiration, live music, outdoor recreation education and more.

NH Winter: Splitboarding into the Backcountry | Union Leader | February 16, 2023

Over the long weekend, mentorship didn’t only occur in the field. Back at Ledge Brewing, the festival’s basecamp, I shadowed a group of freelance journalists, photographers and videographers as they participated in an up-and-coming program known as Outdoor Office. Klementovich, along with outdoor entrepreneur Tyler Ray (a major facilitator of the festival), designed this program to offer aspiring outdoor creatives a chance to collaborate with and learn from professionals.

Adaptive skier Ryan McClintock to compete in Last Skier Standing | Press Release | December 30, 2022

Adaptive skier Ryan McClintock and his longtime friend and ski coach Grant Erickson are competing at the fourth annual Last Skier Standing event on February 10, 2023 at Black Mountain of Maine in Rumford. This challenging event showcases 150 skiers who ascend 1,000 vertical feet to the summit, and ski down- not one time, but once an hour, every hour, until there is one skier left.

Outdoor Rec is a Record-Breaking $862 Billion Industry in the U.S.| Press Release | November 10, 2022
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) has released economic data for 2021 exhibiting outdoor recreation’s powerful and positive economic impact on the U.S. economy. The numbers show outdoor recreation generates $862 billion in economic output and 4.5 million jobs across the country, contributing more to the U.S. economy than oil and gas extraction, mining, and agriculture. Inflation-adjusted GDP for the outdoor recreation economy increased 18.9 percent in 2021, compared with a 5.9 percent increase for the overall U.S. economy.

Granite Outdoor Alliance Appoints Five New Board Members | GOA News | October 19, 2022
Conway NH: Granite Outdoor Alliance (GOA), a coalition of New Hampshire outdoor businesses, nonprofits and outdoor enthusiasts dedicated to building the outdoor economy, recently appointed five new members to its Board of Directors, including Scott Crowder, who served as New Hampshire’s first director of Outdoor Recreation and Industry Development. GOA’s Board guides the membership-based organization with strategic planning efforts to support the outdoor industry.

Kuster, outdoor leaders hold recreation powwow | Conway Daily Sun | August 23, 2022
PINKHAM NOTCH — Camp Dodge Regional Trails Training Center was the setting last Friday for U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster (D-Hopkinton) to speak with regional outdoor leaders about the increases in popularity of outdoor recreation and the demands put on the resources of the White Mountain National Forest during the pandemic era the past few years. Kuster, who represents the 2nd Congressional District, which now includes Jackson, Sandwich and Albany in addition to all of Coos County, was joined at the forum by Susan Arnold, interim president and CEO of the Appalachian Mountain Club; Amanda Peterson, AMC trail programs operations manager; Sarah Hankens, technical and public service staff officer, WMNF; Phil Bryce, director of the.H. Division of Parks and Recreation; Jessyca Keeler, president of Ski NH; J.D. Crichton, general manager of Wildcat Mountain; Brandon Swartz, general manager of Attitash Mountain; Tyler Ray, founder of the Granite Outdoor Alliance and Granite Backcountry Alliance; Ellen Chandler, executive director of Jackson Ski Touring Foundation; and Ed Butler, former Democratic state rep and co-owner of the Notchland Inn in Hart’s Location.

NH Outside: Networking in nature on the Saco with the Granite Outdoor Alliance | Union Leader | August 13, 2022
Amid a flotilla of canoes, my partner and I paddled down the Saco River on a bustling and sunny afternoon, navigating our way around rocks and tree stumps as the swift current pulled us along. I was participating in Rocktails and Streams, the second outdoor “mingler” event hosted by the Granite Outdoor Alliance, offering people in the outdoor industry a chance to get outside and network. An up-and-coming nonprofit organization, GOA is a membership-based coalition dedicated to representing the businesses and organizations that make up the state’s quickly growing outdoor recreation industry, an industry that contributed $2.2 billion to the state’s economy in 2020, according to a U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis study.

Saco River Paddle Launches Deep Dive Into N.H.’s Outdoor Recreation | InDepthNH | July 25, 2022
NORTH CONWAY – The state’s outdoor industry is getting an inventory of what it has to set a foundation and understanding of its importance to the state’s economy. SE Group of Burlington, Vt. has been retained by the state to do a deep dive into what we have here and Tyler Ray of North Conway, an attorney and director of Granite Outdoor Alliance, said it will be a hugely important resource going forward when the industry wants to talk to lawmakers. Ray brought the outdoor business community together for a six-mile paddle down the Saco River last Wednesday, which ended with dinner on a sandy beach where they learned about the statewide plan to take stock of what the state has for outdoor recreation and what it means to the state’s economy.

State’s Outdoor Industry Looks at Workforce Development as New Outdoor Czar Leaves | InDepthNH | June 17, 2022
CONCORD – New Hampshire is searching for a new outdoor director just as a report is being issued that a lack of workforce reinvestment, development, and stagnant wages have hampered growth. Scott Crowder, the state’s first outdoor director in the new state Office of Outside Recreation Industry Development, is returning to the private industry at the end of this month after successfully launching it as the nation’s 16th such program which look to develop the outdoor industry.
Crowder will be announcing a new state initiative next week launching a state trails inventory which will be announced at Whaleback ski area in Lebanon Wednesday night.

First ever Outdoor Industry Expo enjoys peak success | Conway Daily Sun | May 13, 2022
BRETTON WOODS — The Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce hosted its first ever expo focusing on ethically and sustainably promoting outdoor recreation in the Mount Washington Valley.

Can Outdoor Recreation Help Fuel N.H.'s Economy? | NHPR | January 21, 2021

New snow is causing outdoor recreation companies to cheer, and with outdoor sports considered a relatively safe way to recreate during the pandemic, N.H.'s outdoor economy is surging. In fact, N.H. has a newly established Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry Development that aims to support the state's outdoor economy. We discuss how the state plans to help businesses capitalize on the interest in getting outdoors and the ramifications for infrastructure, affordable housing, and conservation of the state’s wild places.

Tourism expected to be strong heading into summer; initiatives in place to focus on outdoors | Union Leader | April 10, 2021
People who flocked to New Hampshire last summer to enjoy the great outdoors during the pandemic brought more than just a boost in tourism.

Preserving winter: Climate change and the uncharted effect on N.H. tourism | Concord Monitor | April 4, 2021

Mountain guide Jordan Cargill has spent his life enjoying the White Mountains and now he makes a living off it, leading those with an adventurous spirit to places like Tuckerman’s Ravine.

New Hampshire Announces First Outdoor Recreation Industry Director  

Concord, NH, April 1, 2021 – The New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA) announces Scott Crowder as the state’s first director of Outdoor Recreation Industry Development (ORID).

“New Hampshire’s outdoor economy plays a critical role in the state’s development strategies,” said BEA Commissioner Taylor Caswell. “Scott’s entrepreneurial experience in the outdoor industry is exactly what we need to launch the new state office of Outdoor Recreation Industry Development (ORID) and accelerate the potential of the state’s outdoor recreation assets.”

ORID was established to support New Hampshire’s diverse outdoor economy as a primary strategy for growing the state’s workforce and attracting businesses interested in New Hampshire’s pro-growth economy. In this role, Crowder will be responsible for coordinating outdoor recreation policy with partners both in and out of state government, such as the newly formed Granite Outdoor Alliance.  Crowder has extensive professional experience in recreation management, marketing and economic development.  Scott is the founder of the North American Pond Hockey Classic; was Principal of Ekal Consulting, overseeing marketing, web design and creative services as well as event consulting and execution; and was a founding partner of Ekal Activity Center in Meredith. Crowder has also served on various tourism, economic development and non-profit boards around the state. 

“I’m honored and excited to be named the first Director of Outdoor Recreation for the state of New Hampshire,” said Crowder. “We have an amazing opportunity in the state to leverage our outdoor assets to enhance the lives of our residents and visitors, our communities and our overall economic position. I look forward to working with individuals and organizations across the state to balance the conservation and stewardship of our natural assets while promoting and developing the unique outdoor recreation offerings we have in front of us.”

According to Granite Outdoor Alliance, New Hampshire’s outdoor industry provides 37,000 jobs and $1.3 billion in wages, and $528 million in state and local taxes.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

The Department of Business and Economic Affairs is dedicated to enhancing the economic vitality of the State of New Hampshire while promoting it as a destination for domestic and international visitors. For more information visit www.nheconomy.com or www.choosenh.com

Back(country) to the future: New wave of ski touring | March 12, 2021 | Conway Daily Sun

Backcountry skiing is having a moment. Throughout Northern New Hampshire in western Maine, outdoor lovers are heading to the glades away from the crowds and “earning their turns” the old-fashioned way — no lifts or gondolas for them.

NH hiring director for new outdoor recreation office | February 22, 2021
New Hampshire is hiring someone to run its newest office focused on the outdoor recreation industry. The state Legislature approved the Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry Development in July 2019, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the hiring of its first director. The office, which is part of the Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA), is designed to integrate tourism and economic initiatives to attract workers — and businesses — interested in the state’s outdoor offerings.

Can Outdoor Recreation Help Fuel N.H.'s Economy? | NHPR The Exchange | February 2, 2021
New snow is causing outdoor recreation companies to cheer, and with outdoor sports considered a relatively safe way to recreate during the pandemic, N.H.'s outdoor economy is surging. In fact, N.H. has a newly established Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry Development that aims to support the state's outdoor economy. We discuss how the state plans to help businesses capitalize on the interest in getting outdoors and the ramifications for infrastructure, affordable housing, and conservation of the state’s wild places.

Outdoor Advocacy Supporting Experience-Based Lifestyles and Landscapes | MWV VIBE | January 21, 2021
The Mt. Washington Valley (MWV) has long been devoted to the pursuit of tourism as a means of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining visitors to support the local economy, much of which has been driven by an interest in the area’s signature natural asset, the White Mountain National Forest (WMNF). With a one-way destination focus, the area has developed into a high-amenity zone, creating a surplus of attractions and opportunities for any visitor, whether they are here for the outdoors or not, producing a transient yet indelible community character.

Meet the Seacoast's 10 to Watch young professionals for 2021 | Seacoastonline | December 10, 2021
From an outstanding field of Seacoast-area young professionals, a panel of judges from Stay Work Play New Hampshire has selected 2021's 10 to Watch winners.

Outdoor Industry a ‘significant driver’ of New Hampshire’s economy | NH Business Review | November 16, 2021
The pandemic clobbered certain parts of the outdoor recreation industry in 2020, cutting its employment in New Hampshire by one-fifth, but even so, the industry contributed more to the economy of the Granite State than in most other states in the country.

Pappas hears ski industry's winter outlook Conway Daily Sun | December 9, 2020.

Get ready for a big winter season, with people affected by the pandemic flocking to ski, snowshoe and snowmobile in the White Mountains, much as they did hiking and biking this summer.

Beauchesne Honored for Connecting People to NH’s Outdoors | indepthnh.org | December 9, 2020

…He said OHRV use is an issue he is working on along with DNR and collaboration with the new Granite Outdoor Alliance to unite users of the outdoors and “grow an experience-driven lifestyle” in the state. Mason said the state’s recreation future depends on such collaborations.

Granite Outdoor Alliance Gives New Voice To Important NH Industry | indepthnh.org | October 14, 2020

New Hampshire’s outdoor community is coming together to network, advocate and educate visitors through a new membership-based nonprofit.

Granite Outdoor Alliance to highlight vital N.H. industry | Conway Daily Sun | October 14, 2020

New Hampshire’s outdoor community is coming together to educate visitors through a new membership-based non-profit. On Wednesday, state leaders helped officially launch the Granite Outdoor Alliance — graniteoutdooralliance.org — which looks to leverage the outdoor industry, which employs about 79,000.

New nonprofit formed to maximize NH outdoor activities, businesses | WMUR-TV | October 14, 2020

The Granite Outdoor Alliance includes businesses and nonprofits that are focused on building a sustainable outdoor economy.

Outdoor advocacy firm has new attorney, interns | Conway Daily Sun | September 23, 2020

Backyard Concept LLC, the region’s first outdoor recreation advocacy firm based in North Conway, has announced the addition of attorney Sarah B. Davidson to the staff to provide professional services to the business and outdoor recreation sector of the regional economy.