BREVARD, N.C. — David Knight, the state’s newly appointed Director of the Outdoor Industry Office, met with elected leaders and outdoor industry representatives at SylvanSport headquarters, in Brevard, North Carolina.
Tasked with supporting and promoting the $28 billion outdoor industry in North Carolina, this newly created office will work with economic development, land and resource managers, elected officials and other stakeholders to foster the growth of the outdoor industry in North Carolina.
According to t
he Outdoor Industry Association’s Economic Impact Report, consumers spent $887 billion on outdoor recreation nationwide, creating 7.6 million jobs and $65.3 billion in tax revenue. North Carolina’s outdoor recreation economy accounts for $28 billion in consumer spending, creating 260,000 jobs and $1.3 billion in tax revenue.
North Carolina is the fourth state to create this position, with the state legislature and Governor recognizing the benefits of the outdoor industry on the state’s economy. In North Carolina, outdoor recreation is the fourth largest economy behind hospital care, outpatient health care, and financial and insurance services.
SylvanSport President Tom Dempsey worked with other outdoor industry leaders to create North Carolina’s Outdoor Industry Office.
“Nobody makes this stuff (outdoor recreation equipment) to use in their backyard,” says Dempsey. “They make this stuff to use on public lands. The outdoor industry depends on taxpayers to support parks and recreational areas and, increasingly, we’re all aware of user fees. Those are the kinds of concepts this office is designed to address and move forward, but it is a unique industry in that we’re all making gear to use on public lands, which makes it necessary to be well integrated with public leadership.”
From the Outer Banks to the Blue Ridge Mountains, Dempsey believes North Carolina will be a leader in how state and local governments and the outdoor industry can work together to build strong and thriving economies.
SOURCE: SylvanSport press release
