Office of Outdoor Recreation

OVERVIEW U.C.A. 63N-9

The Office of Outdoor Recreation (OOR) is housed in the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and embodies the state’s ongoing commitment to the recreation economy, its products and services . The Office of Outdoor Recreation works to promote Utah as the top state for the outdoor products and recreation industries and develops outdoor recreation as part of the state’s economy . OOR works diligently to ensure that outdoor recreation in Utah’s diverse and beautiful landscape continues to enhance the quality of life for generations to come .

OOR endeavors to capitalize on the growth in the outdoor industry in a way that plays to Utah’s natural beauty and unique strengths . An Outdoor Industry Association study notes that for every dollar spent purchasing outdoor equipment, the user will spend four dollars creating an experience with the product . The office strives to bring more outdoor product industry companies to Utah, providing manufacturing, sales and distribution jobs to the state .

On top of all of this, OOR showcases Utah as a world-class outdoor recreation destination, working with both rural and urban communities to build high quality recreation infrastructure .

FY 2015 Highlights:

The Office of Outdoor Recreation held its second annual Outdoor Recreation Summit on March 3, 2015 at the Salt Palace Convention Center . The summit provided a forum to actively discuss a number of issues surrounding Utah’s outdoor recreation and outdoor industry . The attendees enjoyed hearing from Governor Gary R . Herbert, Jerry Stritzke, CEO of REI, mountaineer Chris Warner, Stacy Bare, 2014 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, and many other world-class thought leaders and outdoor recreation advocates . Over five hundred people attended the summit which included not only the outdoor industry, but representatives from Utah’s counties, various communities, and user groups, as well as state and federal land management agencies .

The Office of Outdoor Recreation formed the Waypoint Grant program, a pilot program which makes grant money available with a 50/50 match to communities around the state of Utah . The Waypoint Grant is to be used for the building of outdoor recreation infrastructure and the funding comes from the Industrial Assistance Fund (IAF) . HB 129 made possible the additional recreation infrastructure development throughout the state via this program which will be administered by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development .

The office became concerned about the financial burden of county Search and Rescue teams incurred after rescuing outdoor recreationists in the backcountry . The office conducted extensive research on best practices in the U .S . and determined the best solution would be to create an additional funding source with the sale of special cards to outdoor enthusiasts . The Utah legislature passed HB 324, which created the Utah Search and Rescue Assistance (USARA) card program . The proceeds from the sale of the USARA card will go to the Search and Rescue Assistance Fund, which has been administered by the Search and Rescue Advisory Board and the Department of Emergency Management . The purchase of the card is voluntary, but it exempts card holders from being billed for the costs of their rescue and provides the needed funds for county search and rescue teams across Utah . The cards will be available on the USARA website at Rescue.utah.gov

The Office of Outdoor Recreation worked with Salt Lake County and Salt Lake City to extend the Outdoor Retailer Show to 2018 by working together to approve incentives . These incentives allow the shows, which are the state’s biggest conventions, to expand as they have outgrown the Calvin L . Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center . The economic impact of the shows is significant . University of Utah’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research (BEBR) estimates the average Outdoor Retailer delegate spends $923 while attending the Summer or Winter Market shows in Salt Lake City . Since 1996, when the Outdoor Retailer Show moved to Salt Lake City, direct delegate spending by attendees has totaled more

The 2015 Summer Outdoor Retailer Show at the Salt Palace.

Lifetime Products outdoor booth at the 2015 Outdoor Demo Day.

than $468 million and generated approximately $43 .6 million in city, county and state taxes, according to BEBR .

Salt Lake City-based Black Diamond, a manufacturer of equipment and clothing for climbing, skiing and mountain sports will be expanding its operations in Utah . Black Diamond will be “re-shoring” by bringing outsourced jobs from China back to the state, making a capital investment of $7 .7 million and adding up to 160 jobs over the next seven years .

Osprey Packs, a leading manufacturer of high performance outdoor, cycling and travel packs opened their new 108,000-square foot distribution warehouse in Ogden . The Colorado-based company said that the new location will be more convenient and efficient with its access to the rail system for distribution .

Armada, a leading privately held North American ski company, moved its new global headquarters to Park City . The new headquarters will house a research and development center, warehousing/distribution, and a showroom . With world class skiing nearby, the company will produce and test its prototypes at the new location . Armada designs, markets and distributes innovative and premium quality skis, poles, technical outerwear, clothing, accessories and related projects . Armada indicated they would be creating 56 new jobs at their Summit County location over the next 8 years .

Vista Outdoor is a new standalone publicly-traded outdoor sports and recreation company with its new corporate headquarters in Davis County . It had

previously operated as a sporting group within ATK and owns more than 30 wellknown outdoor brands . Vista Outdoors felt that Utah was a perfect fit to locate its corporate headquarters because of the state’s combination of outstanding business environment talented workforce, great quality of life and because it was “an epicenter for individual outdoor recreation . ”

For additional information about the Utah Outdoor Recreation Office visit www.business.utah.gov or contact Director Brad Petersen at bradp@utah.gov or 801-538-8873