The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Explore Minnesota Tourism department appointed Marine Retailers Association of the Americas President, Matt Gruhn, to their joint Outdoor Recreation Task Force today. Created by Governor Tim Walz in December with industry support, the task force will bring together outdoor recreation stakeholders to identify opportunities to expand access, and economic growth through this community.
Minnesota’s Outdoor Recreation Task Force will develop recommendations for the Governor’s office, and the state’s Department of Natural Resources and tourism department, Explore Minnesota, to more effectively coordinate and advance outdoor recreation statewide. Outdoor recreation supports 101,000 jobs across the state, and contributes $9.6 billion to Minnesota’s economy, accounting for 2.7 percent of state GDP.
“I am honored to have been chosen to represent our industry on this task force,” said Matt Gruhn on his appointment. “The establishment of this group symbolizes the economic significance of outdoor recreation in Minnesota, and it’s my desire to help the State get more people outdoors and on the water. I look forward to collaborating with the many voices of our lands, our waterways and our programs to create an environment where children and adults alike will want to spend more time outside.”
The DNR and Explore Minnesota, in partnership with the Governor’s Office, selected the 20-person task force members out of a pool of 140 applicants. Staff and agency representatives reviewed applications and considered the needs of the task force through several lenses, including the variety of interests that are directly or indirectly related to outdoor recreation, such as nonmotorized and motorized outdoor activities, economic development and tourism, health, education, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Other selection factors included type of outdoor organizations, such as nonprofits, manufacturing, retail, advocacy, and volunteer-run groups in addition to diversity in race and ethnicity, gender, age, and geography. The group’s first meeting will be held in April 28th via WebEx.
Learn more about Minnesota’s Outdoor Recreation Task Force on their website here. For questions of media inquiries please contact Adam Fortier-Brown at 202-737-9779 or adam@mraa.com.
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, contact us at 763-315-8043.
