Mark Hayes and James Willette of Highland Mountain Bike Park in Northfield were among the vendors at NH Outdoor Industry Day Tuesday in Manchester.
By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org
MANCHESTER – New Hampshire’s $3.9 billion outdoor industry, which supports over 30,000 jobs and 1,000 small businesses from the Seacoast shoreline to the Great North Woods, was celebrated by Gov. Kelly Ayotte and Manchester City Mayor Jay Ruais and others on Tuesday.
The governor proclaimed June 10 as the first “New Hampshire Outdoor Industry Day” and spoke about the importance of the state’s outdoors, its outdoor retailers and growing what is part of the state’s second largest economy: tourism.
The event was held at Manchester’s Veterans Memorial Park beginning at 2 p.m. in an event organized by Granite Outdoor Alliance and New Hampshire’s Department of Business Economic Affairs.
Also speaking were Business and Economic Affairs Commissioner Taylor Caswell; Janel Lawton, director of the Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry Development; Granite Outdoor Alliance Director Tyler Ray and NEMO Equipment CEO and Founder Cam Brensinger.
Following the event attendees and the public were able to explore outdoor booths for more than 50 organizations and vendors in what was called the “Rock City Vendor Village,” which was a pop-up showcasing local outdoor brands and partners. It was free to the public to visit until 6 p.m. where they enjoyed food, music, free activities and giveaways.
The event celebrated New Hampshire’s outdoor industry and its vital role in economic development, workforce attraction, and state identity and was intended to highlight the cross-sector collaboration among state, local, and industry leaders by raising awareness of the outdoor industry’s economic contributions to the state’s GDP, jobs, and wages.
The occasion also offered the launching of the state’s office of Business and Economic Affairs Office of Outdoor Recreations’ “Workforce Toolkit for the Outdoor Lifestyle” to help human resource staff at businesses across the state integrate outdoor assets into their recruitment and retention strategies.
Both Executive Councilors John Stephen, R-Manchester and Democrat Karen Liot Hill, D-Lebanon, attended the kick off and got a chance to visit vendor booths which included a number of state agencies from state parks to Fish and Game as well as business like NEMO Equipment, Great North Aleworks, Highland Mountain bike park, Badger, Appalachian Mountain Club and Minus 33.
Liot Hill whose District includes 81 cities and towns in western New Hampshire and then north to Littleton said outdoor recreation is a growing part of the economy in her district.
“Especially places like Littleton where they have the combination of outdoor recreation and the creative arts economy. There is this synergy happening…Littleton is bucking the (state’s aging) trend and getting younger and I think outdoor recreation amenities combined with performing arts and the unmatched natural resources is the secret sauce to the great life we live in New Hampshire.”
Ray, who created Granite Outdoor Alliance, said, “Our mission is simple but powerful: to make outdoors a strategic driver of economic growth, workforce development and community wellbeing.”
New Hampshire ranks eighth nationally for outdoor share of state Gross Domestic Product, Ray said.
“Make no mistake this isn’t a hobby economy, it is a cornerstone of local vitality and statewide opportunity,” he said. “Outdoor industry day is a moment to recognize the size and scope of our sector and it is a moment to differentiate it as well to clarify that outdoor is not just a one way street of visitors coming in but a full circle economy that involves year round jobs, gear, infrastructure stewardship and innovation.”
Mayor Ruais noted the city has almost 50 parks, 20 miles of rail trails, the Merrimack River, and McIntyre Ski Area.
Gov. Ayotte said the outdoors is so much a part of the life and lifestyle which make New Hampshire what it is.
“We are really committed to the outdoor industry,” she said. “There is so much entrepreneurship. I think New Hampshire’s positive business climate married with our respect for the environment and our beauty of New Hampshire, this is the best place to start a business,” she said.
“You really contribute to our ability to enjoy this great state,” she said.
On a separate note which was not mentioned during the presentation, Ayotte is picking up where her predecessor, former Gov. Chris Sununu left off in holding Super 603 Days.
Earlier this spring, she asked people to give her suggestions for where she should go to highlight New Hampshire’s experiential beauty “from iconic tourist attractions, fantastic small businesses, and fun things to do on a trip to the Granite State. We want your ideas on where the Governor should go and what she should do! Please fill out our suggestion box below or submit your idea to Super603day@governor.nh.gov.