ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, March, 25 2022 — Marine Retailers Association of the Americas President, Matt Gruhn, testified today in the Minnesota House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy in support of legislation to create an Office of Outdoor Recreation.

HF 4356, introduced by Representatives Davnie, Hansen, Ecklund, Noor, Jordan, Sandstede and Vang, would move forward with recommendations from the Minnesota Outdoor Recreation Task Force and create Minnesota’s first Office of Outdoor Recreation. The office will be instrumental in strengthening Minnesota’s outdoor recreation economy, bolstering the workforce and creating more opportunities for residents and visitors. Outdoor recreation in Minnesota is a major economic driver, generating $8.4 billion, or 2.2 percent, of the state’s GDP and provides for nearly 11,000 jobs at almost 700 individual businesses. However, the most conducive method to continue growing this forceful sector is through improvements on the outdoor workforce and increased access to recreational opportunities.

“After serving as a member on the Minnesota Outdoor Recreation Task Force, which recommended the creation of an office, it is uplifting to see the introduction of HF 4356,” says Gruhn. “The sponsors of this bill deserve thanks for being champions of policy that will help grow and strengthen our state’s already robust outdoor recreation economy.”

Currently, 18 states have an office of outdoor recreation and have experienced massive improvements in their outdoor recreation economies. These offices are instrumental in developing the workforce, increasing access and providing more resources to both businesses and recreational enthusiasts. The work done by an OREC office will have compounding effects and not only benefit visitors and tourists but also residents of the state.

“The outdoor recreation economy — driven by recreational boating and fishing across 39 states and D.C. — has shown its resiliency and strong economic contributions across Minnesota, generating $8.4 billion in economic impact in 2020 alone, despite uncertainty and pandemic-related closures,” said Jill Sims, Great Lakes Region Policy and Engagement Manager, National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). “As Minnesotans continue to explore the great outdoors and re-discover the joy of time spent on our waters, we encourage the legislature to establish an office of outdoor recreation to build upon the state’s storied outdoor legacy and commitment to leverage our natural resources.”

Friday, March 25, The House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy HF4356 was laid over for possible inclusion in the Omnibus Bill. If you are interested in supporting HF4356, or have any questions, contact Chad Tokowicz, MRAA Government Relations Manager at Chad@mraa.com, or 978-569-5127.

About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the retail organizations that interact with the boaters in their community must thrive. With that in mind, MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting those retailers, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, visit MRAA.com or contact us at 763-315-8043.