Impact of Outdoor Recreation Fund Advisory Council
Governor Brad Little just created the first ever Outdoor Recreation Fund Advisory Council, ORFAC. Skylar Jett, Idaho Business for the Outdoors’ Executive Director, is Chair of this Council. We are proud to be the unified, nonpartisan business voice advocating for our outdoors on the council. This council was formed after Idaho’s 30 state parks saw a 27% increase in usage with 7.4 million visitors in 2020, 2021 and 2022. In 2024, ORFAC will use $5 million of funding provided through Senate Bill 1196 to make improvements to Idaho’s outdoors.
What does this investment actually support for Idaho residents and outdoor recreation enthusiasts? The answer can be broken down into these five categories: access, health, economy, rural support, and education.
“79% of Idaho’s residents participate in outdoor recreation.”
Access
According to the Outdoor Industry Association, 79% of Idaho’s residents participate in outdoor recreation. Idaho is one of the fastest growing states and the population is quickly approaching 2 million people. One large part of the ORFAC’s job is to increase quality outdoor recreation opportunities. Expanding options for outdoor recreation throughout the state will help contain dispersed recreation. This containment often results in less search and rescue costs for counties, less dumping and waste left behind, and better experiences for everyone enjoying the outdoors.
Dispersed Recreation: activities that take place outside of developed camping or concessionaire-operated facilities, excluding motorized recreation. This may include dispersed camping in designated sites or corridors that lack substantial improvements.
“Spending just two hours a week outside can contribute to better health”
Health
According to research from UC Davis, being outside in nature has a variety of health benefits. Increasing opportunities for Idahoans to recreate outside will support resident’s health and quality of life. Unsurprisingly, research shows spending just two hours a week outside can contribute to better health. When we immerse ourselves in nature our brains are able to take a break from the overload of things like social media and exhaustive demands of work. Going outside can also contribute to your physical health. When in nature people like to spend time doing some sort of activity: walking, biking, hiking, fishing, to name a few. These types of movement are good for a variety of parts of your body including your muscles, heart, and even your immune system.
“Outdoor recreation contributes $7.8 billion in consumer spending to Idaho’s economy”
Economy
Outdoor recreation contributes $7.8 billion in consumer spending to Idaho’s economy each year, learn more here. One of the goals of the ORFAC is to expand recreation opportunities and increase monetization of the industry. Establishing long-term sustainability of these activities will ensure that they continue to support the state’s economy. Not only does outdoor recreation directly support the economy, it also contributes to employee retention and recruitment. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, “Investing in outdoor infrastructure attracts employers and active workforces, ensuring those communities thrive economically and socially.” In partnership with Boise State University's Economics of Sustainability class, Idaho Business for the Outdoors created an eight question survey for Idaho businesses to help evaluate the impact of our outdoors on economic growth and job recruitment in Idaho in 2018. The survey was delivered to over 300 businesses, across 5 different sectors of industry in Idaho. Of these respondents, Idaho's education sector uses the outdoors as a recruitment tool 100% of the time, with health care selecting they promote outdoor amenities 80% of the time.
“Outdoor recreation currently creates 78,000 jobs in Idaho, bringing $2.3 billion in wages and salaries”
Rural Support
Outdoor recreation currently creates 78,000 jobs in Idaho, bringing $2.3 billion in wages and salaries to the state. With the help of the Outdoor Recreation Fund Advisory Council, these numbers are likely to grow as we invest in outdoor recreation. When there is a lack of infrastructure, resources and revenue, increased recreation can cause an adverse impact on rural communities. ORFAC uses a holistic perspective to see how recreation expansion will affect every community in Idaho. Their investment, support and coordination will prioritize responsible development.
Education
The Council will also be increasing the spread of information around Idaho’s public lands and the outdoor industry. It is crucial to have educated users to know how to be responsible outside. Responsible recreation begins with education on the environment you are in and remembering to leave the area better than you found it. Outside of outdoor recreation, public lands are also used for a variety of crucial industries in Idaho including grazing and timber. ORFAC will work on increasing awareness about public lands and outdoor recreation’s importance to the state of Idaho.
Outdoor Project proposal
Applications must be submitted before November 7th to skylarjett@idahobo.org. You can find the application here.
If the project is selected for funding consideration, the council may request additional information or a full project design. They hope to start making decisions on projects in December, with an initial funding recommendation submitted to the Governor by the end of the year. Projects should add or expand recreational access or amenities. Priority will be given to projects on state lands or to expand state-owned recreation sites.
Idaho Business for the Outdoors is a growing coalition of Idaho Businesses and community partners. Join us, as we advocate and improve the health and the resilience of Idaho’s public lands so they are available for future generations.