On March 20, Gov. Josh Shapiro, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn and Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding visited ski and snowboard manufacturer Gilson Snow in Snyder County to launch the Pennsylvania Outdoor Business Alliance.

As promised in his first budget proposal, Governor Shapiro launched the Office of Outdoor Recreation to make Pennsylvania the national leader in outdoor recreation and job creation.

Outdoor recreation adds $17 billion annually to Pennsylvania’s economy and supports 164,000 jobs.

The Alliance will create opportunities for our outdoor recreation businesses to collaborate with one another, develop a one-stop shop for questions related to permits, regulations, and help Pennsylvania small businesses compete in the national outdoor recreation economy.

“Outdoor recreation and tourism are already major economic drivers in Pennsylvania – I want to capitalize on that and do more to help connect the dots between businesses like Gilson Snow that support the Commonwealth’s outdoor recreation economy so they can help each other grow and succeed,” said Gov. Shapiro. “That’s why my Administration is creating the Pennsylvania Outdoor Business Alliance – to help Pennsylvania small businesses compete in the national outdoor recreation economy. Under my Administration, Pennsylvania is open for business, and we have a plan to help Pennsylvania businesses compete and grow.”

To do this work right and make sure the Administration is meeting the needs of Pennsylvania businesses, DCNR is working with the Southern Alleghenies Planning and Development Commission to bring together stakeholders and build structure for the Alliance that will meet their needs both today and tomorrow.

“Pennsylvania’s parks and forests, mountains and lakes, trails and rivers are the roots of our outdoor industry, and from them our economic prosperity and wellbeing can grow,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn.

Within months of its release, the Shapiro Administration is delivering on the recommendations of the Growing Outdoor Recreation for Pennsylvania roadmap by establishing an Outdoor Business Alliance to build capacity and organize the outdoor industry.

“The outdoor industry is much larger, more diversified, and more advanced than meets the eye – it includes producers like Gilson Snow, providers of outdoor experiences, and a host of professionals, and we’ve met a lot of them standing up our new office,” said Pennsylvania Director of Outdoor Recreation Nathan Reigner. “This new Alliance will be there to advocate for them and what they need so that the Commonwealth can better support their business and help them Get Shit Done for Pennsylvania’s outdoor economy.”

Gilson Snow partners with the Pittsburgh-based Outdoor Inclusion Coalition, a nonprofit founded to progress the pressing questions of diversity and inclusion in the outdoor industry, to show young people that the outdoors are more than just a place to have fun and spend time in nature.

Through this partnership, youth are exposed to career opportunities in production, design, marketing, and management at Gilson Snow and build community through the outdoors.

“In Pennsylvania, we have an impressive economic ecosystem that was critical in helping us rebuild after losing our facility to a massive fire in 2022, and this ecosystem continues to support our vision for broadening access to the outdoors,” said Nick Gilson, founder and CEO of Gilson Snow. “Our business is thriving on a national and global level because of the resources and partnerships we have right here in the Commonwealth, from the sustainably harvested timber in our forests to the brilliantly creative designers we have pushing the limits of what’s possible. We are excited to be here today to support the vision of an Outdoor Business Alliance alongside great partners.”

By supporting Pennsylvania’s outdoor recreation industry across our state, Governor Shapiro’s proposed budget and new economic development strategy continues to help Pennsylvania compete and grow.

“Partnering with Gilson Snow helps us provide young people with meaningful connections to the outdoors, which in turn inspires the next generation of workers in outdoor recreation and conservation,” said Marcus Shoffner, President and CEO of the Outdoor Inclusion Coalition. “I am excited to see development in an Outdoor Business Alliance and see this initiative as a tremendous opportunity to help make even more meaningful connections that help expand opportunities for youth all over Pennsylvania.”

Visit Explore PA Trails and Get Outdoors PA for recreation areas near you.

Visit the PA Parks & Forests Foundation’s Events webpage and DCNR’s Calendar of Events for activities happening near you.

For more information on state parks and forests and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit DCNR’s website, Visit the Good Natured DCNR Blog,  Click Here for upcoming events, Click Here to hook up with DCNR on other social media-- Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.

Related Articles - Recreation/Forests:

-- DCNR Conservation & Natural Resources Advisory Council Meets March 27 To Hear Update On Grant Programs, State Budget  [PaEN] 

-- Gov. Shapiro Launches Outdoor Business Alliance To Support PA’s Outdoor Economy At Gilson Snow in Snyder County  [PaEN] 

-- DCNR Grants Newsletter: Last Minute Tips For Grant Applicants; Match-Free Tree Grants; Making Erie Safer For Migrating Birds 

-- Master Watershed Stewards In York County Recognize Betsy Leppo, Western PA Conservancy, Gifford Pinchot State Park Staff As 2023 Outstanding Partners For Work On Vernal Pools  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Announces Restoration Work Underway At Delaware Canal State Park In Delaware County

-- Western PA Conservancy Accepting Applications For Canoe Access Grants In Western PA  [PaEN] 

-- Northcentral PA Conservancy Hosts April 21 A Night For Nature And Helles-bender Beer At Turkey Hill Brewing In Bloomsburg  [PaEN] 

-- Learn How Your Property Could Be Certified Watershed-Friendly By Penn State Extension At April 25 Workshop In Cumberland County  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension: April 9 Webinars: Introduction To Working Riparian Buffers You Can Eat; Other Buffer Resources  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension, Partners Host Volunteer Tree Plantings/Workshops April 13 - Lebanon County, April 16 & 20, May 11 - Lancaster County  [PaEN]

-- April 23 Webinar: Importance Of Tree Equity Amidst Changing Community Climates Hosted By Penn State Extension, Partners  [PaEN]

-- Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition Highlights Jennings Environmental Ed Center Beavers; March 25 & April 8 Eclipse; More Activities  [PaEN]

-- Register Now For PA Master Naturalist Volunteer Training  [PaEN] 

-- Allegheny National Forest Partnership Projects Improve Stream Health Using Federal Inflation Reduction Act Funds  [PaEN]

-- US Forest Service: Weathering The Warmth - Early Spring's Impact On Trees - By Joseph M. Phillips, US Forest Service Northern Research Station  [PAEN] 

NewsClips:

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: PA Launches Outdoor Business Alliance

-- Republican Herald Editorial: Cost Of Trails Yields Many Benefits

-- Erie Times: Indicted In Undercover Sting, McKean County Ginseng Dealer Gets Fined In Erie Federal Court

-- Northern Appalachian Folk Festival Indiana, PA: April 27:  Michael Klimkos - The Fires Of Penn’s Woods 

-- Wildlands Conservancy: Register Now For 28th Lehigh River Sojourn, June 8-11 

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: Tyler Arboretum To Reopen Trails Closed By Devastating Beetle Attack In Delaware County

-- Scranton Times: Lackawanna Commissioners OK Contract For New Roaring Brook Trail System

-- PittsburghUnionProgress.com: Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Programming Planned At City Parks 

-- Warren Times - Josh Cotton: Allegheny National Forest Outlines Scope Of 18,000 Acre Hemlock Run Forest Management Project

-- MCall: Raccoon Tests Positive For Rabies After Biting Hiker At Delaware Water Gap Recreation Area

-- TribLive: Tree Pollen Season A Little Early This Year, Allergists Say

[Posted: March 20, 2024]

3/25/2024