Industry leaders say Maine is off to a strong start on a plan aimed at expanding the state’s outdoor recreation economy by 10% over 10 years.
According to an article by Portland Press Herald, the Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation, Maine Outdoor Brands and a network of partners launched the initiative one year ago with the goal of making outdoor recreation a core pillar of the state’s economy.
This week, more than 400 government officials, policymakers, educators, business owners, nonprofit leaders and outdoor enthusiasts gathered in Portland for the annual Maine Outdoor Economy Summit to discuss progress and the challenges ahead.
“It’s not new for those of us who have been doing this work for a while, but I think it’s just starting to really rise to the forefront as an economic driver for Maine,” said Kristina Cannon, president and CEO of Main Street Skowhegan, who served on the plan’s steering committee and is helping develop a new river park downtown.
“The roadmap provides that legitimacy.” The Maine Outdoor Recreation Economy Roadmap sets a target of growing the sector to $3.7 billion by 2035.
The groundwork for the effort was influenced by federal data. In 2018, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis began publishing outdoor recreation economic impact figures, which helped lead to the formation of Maine Outdoor Brands and the creation of the state Office of Outdoor Recreation.
“It was really impactful for us to realize where Maine sits in the country,” said Jenny Kordick, executive director of Maine Outdoor Brands.
In 2023, the bureau reported that outdoor recreation contributed $3.4 billion to Maine’s economy, accounted for 3.7% of the state’s GDP and supported more than 30,000 jobs.
Kordick and Office of Outdoor Recreation Director Jeff McCabe said this data prompted policymakers to pursue a more coordinated strategy.
“We felt like it was the perfect time for us to start to organize,” Kordick said.
Early progress includes a workforce needs assessment and a new communications plan, along with efforts to strengthen outdoor infrastructure.
Mark Berry of the Nature Conservancy highlighted a conservation partnership near the New Hampshire border involving the Forest Society of Maine, the Northeast Wilderness Trust and the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust to permanently protect 78,000 acres.
“This is an outstanding outdoor opportunity area that’s treasured and really important to its local communities, but it’s also easily accessible by a massive human population, and that leads to real pressure on the landscape and real urgency to the conservation approach,” Berry said.
Leaders are also focused on making the sector more inclusive. Juan Vargas, who works on inclusive marketing strategies for the Maine Office of Tourism, challenged summit attendees to consider historical barriers to outdoor participation.
“Now let’s get real,” Vargas said. “Raise your hand if you would have felt welcomed in the outdoors 60 years ago.” He added,
“When we talk about shifting audiences, we also have to understand how history impacts perspectives,” He said.
Looking ahead, funding remains a concern. Maine voters approved a $30 million bond for trail projects in 2024, and the first round of grants was announced in December.
Adam Fisher from the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands said more than 100 applications were submitted, with $7.5 million awarded to 44 projects.
“At the current rate, the Maine Trails Program will run out of money in 2028,” Fisher said. “Maine’s outdoor infrastructure needs a dedicated funding stream.”
Consumer spending pressures are another hurdle, but industry leaders see opportunity. Kelly Davis of the Outdoor Industry Association said more than 180 million Americans participated in outdoor recreation in 2024, up 27 million from pre-pandemic levels.
“Economically, socially, we’re all feeling some sense of stress,” she said. “This is going to send people outdoors. If we can engage this group, if we can be welcoming, even if they’re not spending a ton of money, think about what that means. … What a huge opportunity we have as an industry.”
This news highlights how sustained investment in infrastructure, access and participation is shaping future demand across the RV and outdoor recreation landscape.