Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) has released its 2022 Annual Report, detailing a year of unprecedented success for the record-breaking $862 billion outdoor recreation industry.
The ORR, a coalition of leading companies and organizations from across the outdoor recreation sector, facilitated the cross-sector collaboration that led to numerous industry wins while supporting local economies and promoting access to the great outdoors.
According to ORR’s release, one of the major highlights of the year was the ORR’s support of the Biden Administration’s revival of the Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation (FICOR).
The organization worked with federal land and water management agencies to address pressing issues such as funding, overcrowding, and climate resiliency.
Additionally, the ORR partnered with Congressional leaders to champion a package of outdoor recreation legislation that received overwhelming support in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
The organization also secured millions of dollars in funding for rural communities through grants from the Economic Development Administration and coordinated the release of new outdoor recreation economic data from the Department of Commerce, showing that the outdoor recreation sector had its best year ever in 2021.
The ORR also introduced new resources for organizations working towards inclusivity in the outdoors through the Together Outdoors Resource Hub.
Another notable achievement of the ORR in 2022 was the hosting of a first-of-its-kind industry summit on electrification and next-gen technology in outdoor recreation.
The organization also launched Workforce Career modules to support employers and employees, welcoming new members and state offices from all across the country to the coalition.
Looking ahead, ORR President Jessica Turner highlighted that the ORR team is enthusiastic about building out the next important growth phase of the organization with an emphasis on industry thought leadership and convenings, ensuring recognition of the recreation economy, and policy developments at all levels that support a healthy business environment and recreation economy for the benefit of all Americans.
“This next year will be critically important for both our organization and the recreation economy at large, and we are excited to dig into another year of dedication to our amazing members and the lands and waters that serve as the backbone of our strong sector,” Turner said.
It is clear that the ORR has made significant strides in promoting and supporting the outdoor recreation industry and ensuring that all Americans can access the benefits of spending time outdoors. As the organization looks toward the future, outdoor enthusiasts can look forward to continued growth and success in the industry.