By Janet Koch, Community Development Director
We all know the amazing natural resources in northern lower Michigan are an economic boon to our communities—all you have to do is look for a parking spot in July to recognize that! But the economic impact isn’t just tourism; water keeps people here, trails bring people here to live, and access to hunting, fishing, and snowmobiling can be cited as a contributing factor in locating some businesses.
But what, exactly, is the economic impact of outdoor recreation? The U. S. Department of Commerce estimates that outdoor recreation is 2% of the nation’s gross domestic product. Okay, that’s nice to know, but what does that mean to us?
A 2017 report from the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) indicates that Michigan has 232,000 direct jobs in outdoor recreation, with an accompanying $7.5 billion in annual wages and salaries. The really big number? Consumer spending. The OIA report estimates that, in 2016, $26.6 billion was spent in Michigan on outdoor recreation. That’s billions. With a B.
The OIA report also lists 2016 outdoor recreation spending in other states; Illinois was $25.8 billion, Ohio was $24.3 billion, Wisconsin was $17.9 billion, and Indiana was $15.7. It seems clear that outdoor recreation plays a large part in our regional economy. Due to Michigan’s wealth of natural resources, however, it has a higher dollar amount for us than for our neighbor states.
What’s the takeaway from all these numbers? Community development can be economic development, so take advantage of what you have! Many communities are already doing outstanding work with their parks, water access points, and trail systems, but more can always be done. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources recently published their Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan 2018-2022, or SCORP. Appendix C is chockful of information and ideas to advance our economies. Check out the recommendations on page 72, there’s sure to be something you can use! For more information, contact Janet Koch, Community Development Specialist, via email or call 231-582-6482.
