Supporting the Confluence of States

ORR and Outdoor Industry Association are teaming up to support the Confluence of States and its efforts to grow state outdoor recreation efforts with the generous support of The VF Foundation and REI. ORR supports the Confluence and other state leaders with resources, research, data, and education to advance state outdoor recreation efforts in unison.

ORR and NCSL

ORR and the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) have collaborated to educate state lawmakers on outdoor recreation and its impacts at the state level through panels at NCSL’s Legislative Summit and resources such as LegisBriefs that are distributed to all state legislators.

Toolkit and Best Practices Resources

State-Offices-Doc
DevelopingStateORecGuidebook

ORR State Members

Arkansas

Arkansas Office of Outdoor Recreation

The Arkansas Office of Outdoor Recreation’s goal is to further establish Arkansas as a top destination for outdoor recreation and to ensure outdoor businesses continue to thrive. The office provides a central point of contact, advocacy, and resources at the state level for the diverse constituents, businesses, and communities that rely on the continued health of the outdoor recreation economy. The office focuses on economic development, education and workforce training, conservation and stewardship, and public health and wellness, to ensure the state’s strategic growth as a place where outdoor businesses and recreation communities can flourish.

Colorado

Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office

The Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office provides a central point of contact, advocacy, and resources at the state level for the diverse constituents, businesses, and communities that rely on the continued health of the outdoor recreation economy. OREC’s mission is to champion industry, communities, and people to come to life through Colorado’s great outdoors. Colorado’s outdoor recreation industry accounts for $11.6 billion in state GDP annually and contributed 125,000 direct jobs in 2021. According to the 2017 SCORP report, 92% of Colorado residents participate in outdoor recreation each year. Colorado’s outdoor economy contributes to a higher quality of life, making people and communities happier and healthier.

Maine

Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation

The Office of Outdoor Recreation leverages Maine’s assets and outdoor recreation heritage to grow the outdoor recreation economy and build Maine’s outdoor recreation brand as part of a coordinated effort with partners from the public and private sectors. Outdoor recreation made up 3.6% of Maine’s economy, almost double the national average in 2021. Outdoor recreation supported more than 31,000 jobs in Maine in 2021, accounting for 4.9% of employment.

Michigan

Michigan Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry

Outdoor recreation plays an important and growing role in Michiganders’ quality of life, leisure time and health. The Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry – a first for our state – works with industry partners from many sectors to anticipate emerging trends, create effective policy and elevate outdoor recreation opportunities and resources across Michigan.

Montana

Montana Office of Outdoor Recreation

Nevada

Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation

The Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation works to promote Nevada’s outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities and the conservation of its natural environment, grow Nevada’s economy through outdoor recreation, and educate the public about responsible recreation and healthy and active lives enriched by the outdoors.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry Development

The addition of the Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry Development was established to support New Hampshire’s diverse outdoor economy and connect our state’s world class outdoor assets to broad economic development strategies such as workforce and business recruitment. In a post-COVID world and the new remote work environment, these connections will take on even more importance. The new outdoor recreation office and its director will put exclusive focus on this effort and will be fully integrated into our department, working with our economic and tourism development teams and partnering with our growing outdoor industry.

New Mexico

New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division

The New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division’s goal is nothing short of transforming the state’s economic, social, and environmental future by championing sustainable outdoor recreation and increasing access to it for all New Mexicans, especially those who have been excluded from the traditional outdoor recreation and environmental movements. The Division works to achieve positive, measurable impacts within economic development, conservation, education, and public health. The Outdoor Recreation Division’s success is dependent on collaboration with New Mexican businesses, nonprofits, and partner state and federal agencies. Through this network, we aim to engage all New Mexicans as stewards of the state’s incredible natural resources.

North Carolina

North Carolina Outdoor Recreation Industry Office

North Carolina’s Outdoor Recreation Industry Office works to grow and support the outdoor recreation economy at the state level through collaboration with existing outdoor businesses, local governments, and communities who rely on a richly diverse outdoor recreation landscape. The office focuses on economic development, education and workforce training, conservation and stewardship, and public health and wellness, to ensure the state’s strategic growth as a place where outdoor businesses and recreation communities can thrive.

Utah

Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation

The Division of Outdoor Recreation is committed to ensuring every Utahn can live a healthy and active lifestyle through outdoor recreation and access to natural space.