Recreation Northwest and Big Tent Outdoor Recreation Coalition are both highlighted in a recent report from OIA and Spruce Lab.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Spruce Lab developed a framework and suite of recommendations for the Outdoor Industry Association to use as a resource when engaging with brands, retailers and individuals at a local level, detailing best practices and lessons learned from existing State Business Organizations.

Community [kuh-myoo-ni-tee]: A group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society.

While the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) has a strong national presence within the outdoor community, there is also immense value in uniting the industry at local and state levels. When local leaders strengthen relationships at the roots of the industry, the $887 billion dollar outdoor recreation economy becomes an even greater force.

“Recreation is inherently local. You fall in love with the waters, the mountains, the river, the prairie. Since it’s so place centric, these organizations lend themselves to having a localized effort.”-Marc Berejka, REI

Over the past decade, there has been a wave of industry leaders forming outdoor recreation business organizations and alliances. While each organization varies, the common goal is to establish a group of industry professionals, non-profit leaders, policymakers, and other key stakeholders to raise awareness about the importance of the outdoor economy. For example, industry professionals in Bend, OR formed the Oregon Outdoor Alliance (OOA). The OOA provides a space to network with industry peers, share resources, and advise on brand strategy and development. By establishing an outdoor alliance, a unified voice was created to weigh in on policy issues that affect the $16.4 billion outdoor recreation economy within the state of Oregon. Download Outdoor Recreation State Business Organizations report. 

MESSAGE FROM SPRUCE LABS

The Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) has a goal of
 advancing policy that supports the outdoor industry at
the local, state, and federal level. This work historically
has been focused in Washington, D.C., by individual
brand leaders and through coalition work with aligned
partners. Over the last several years, the OIA has seen
significant momentum from the outdoor industry
organizing at the state and regional level around shared
goals to protect where we recreate. To date, the OIA has
been serving as a hub for resources, and an advisor to
groups across active states.

 

Building off the momentum the OIA and aligned partners
have created, Spruce Lab will support in the development
of a consistent and adaptable business relationships
framework – supporting the growth of this collective
impact and fostering empowerment.

Together with the OIA, Spruce Lab will support creating
resources that detail best practices and lessons learned
for forming state-based outdoor business organizations.
Spruce Lab also has the opportunity to consolidate
and develop a suite of recommendations for the OIA to
engage with these alliances.

Spruce Lab’s ultimate goal is to support the OIA in
increasing policy efforts; shaping the future of how the
OIA engages in state and local advocacy work.