Shaheen Applauds $1.2 Trillion Economic Contribution by Outdoor Recreation in 2023, $3.9 Billion Added to New Hampshire’s Economy
**The economic impact report is a result of Shaheen’s bipartisan bill that was signed into law in 2016**
(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), chair of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the U.S. Department of Commerce, applauded the release of an annual report by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), showing a $1.2 trillion economic contribution by the outdoor recreation sector in 2023, including adding $3.9 billion to New Hampshire’s economy. The outdoor recreation economy grew 3.6% nationally, outpacing growth in the U.S. economy overall. In New Hampshire, outdoor recreation accounts for 3.4% of gross domestic product (GDP) and employs 32,000 people, which is a 2.9% increase in jobs. The Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account estimate, provided by the BEA through the U.S. Department of Commerce, is a result of Shaheen’s bipartisan Outdoor Recreation Jobs and Economic Impact Act that was signed into law in 2016.
“From hiking and skiing in the White Mountains to boating on Lake Winnipesaukee to enjoying the beaches on the Seacoast and everywhere in between, outdoor recreation and its small businesses are a big part of what makes New Hampshire so special. They’re a powerful economic driver, and today’s report from the Bureau of Economic Analysis further underscores the benefits of outdoor recreation for communities across the nation,” said Senator Shaheen, chair of the U.S. Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee. “I was proud to lead the legislation that made this annual report possible, and I hope that it continues to inform policies that help our small businesses and local economies thrive.”
Prior to 2017, the federal government did not measure the economic impact of outdoor recreation, despite independent estimates, including the Outdoor Industry Association’s (OIA) report. Shaheen’s Outdoor Recreation Jobs and Economic Impact Act required the federal government to measure the sector’s impact on the economy to help inform policy makers and business leaders about the number of jobs created and consumer spending driven by outdoor recreation industries. The law also requires that the Commerce Department submit a comprehensive analysis to Congress capturing the outdoor recreation sector’s contribution to the economy.
In November 2023, Shaheen held her first hearing as Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship (SBC) on the importance of the outdoor recreation economy, the key role of small businesses in this industry and the challenges they face.
Shaheen also fought to secure full funding and permanent authorization for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) through the Great American Outdoors Act. LWCF has helped protect more than 2.5 million acres of land and supported tens of thousands of state and local outdoor recreation projects throughout the nation.
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