The @usbeagov (BEA) released its latest numbers on the outdoor recreation industry's economic impact, and Colorado continues to lead the way, ranking in the top 10 states nationally. Our outdoor recreation industry contributes a powerful $18.1 billion to the state’s economy. Conor Hall, Director of the @corecindustry , dives into the significance of this powerful activity for our state in this article from The Colorado Sun. Link in bio👆
How do you revitalize a local economy without losing the town’s character? You start with the people who live there.
Through our Rural Technical Assistance program (RTAP), Minturn held an action-planning workshop in March led by graduate students from the Masters of the Environment (MENV) program at CU Boulder. The lively and engaging workshop brought together community members and state partners to identify local priorities for outdoor recreation and Main Street development.
Read more about how this powerful partnership is helping Minturn rediscover its potential. Link in the bio.🔗
One year into Colorado's Outdoors Strategy, partners across the state are turning vision into action, protecting critical landscapes, expanding outdoor access, and strengthening climate resilience for the future.
And now, we have even more to celebrate: Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy just received a Colorado Lottery Starburst Award, recognizing excellence in using lottery proceeds to make a real difference for our communities, lands, and wildlife.
This honor reflects what happens when we come together with a shared vision. Over the past year, we've:
✅ Protected over 81,000 acres with high conservation value
✅ 51 species of greatest conservation need protected within conserved acreage
✅ Invested $31M+ in 185 new or enhanced recreation areas
✅ Funded 190 wildlife habitat and climate resiliency projects
✅ Created Colorado's first statewide accessible trails dashboard
None of this would be possible without the collaboration of partners across Colorado, from state agencies and local governments to conservation organizations, recreation groups, and community leaders. We're proud to be part of this legacy, and we're just getting started. Here's to the power of partnership and the bright future ahead for Colorado’s outdoors. 🏔️✨
Learn more at the link in our bio.
#COOutdoorsStrategy
One year ago, Colorado launched the nation's first comprehensive framework to unite conservation, outdoor recreation and climate resilience under one strategy.
Today, thanks to partners across the state, Colorado's Outdoors Strategy is delivering real results for lands, wildlife and communities.
Here's what we accomplished together in year one:
🌲 81,561 acres conserved with high conservation value
🐟 51 species of greatest conservation need protected within conserved acreage
🥾 185 new or enhanced recreation areas
💰 $31M+ invested in priority recreation enhancement
🌿 190 wildlife habitat and climate resiliency projects funded
Click the link in our bio and learn how we’re working collaboratively to shape the future of Colorado’s outdoors.
Colorado companies, do you know about the Tariff Navigation Program? Participating companies can gain access to a series of live and recorded, expert-led tariff navigation briefings designed to help businesses understand the current U.S. tariff environment, stay informed on new and emerging trade policy changes, identify compliance risks and cost exposure, learn practical tariff navigation strategies and more. Plus, eligible companies can receive personalized, expert consulting support to evaluate and implement tariff navigation strategies, including:
•Supply chain optimization
•Tariff classification review
•Trade compliance assessments
•Global operations and sourcing strategies
Register for the upcoming Unlocking United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) webinar on May 1, 2026 from 9-10 a.m. In this session, experts will cover what businesses need to know right now, including how to determine if your products qualify as USMCA-originating, key rules of origin concepts, and common pitfalls to avoid. Link in bio to register today to access this support 👆
From the Eastern Plains to the Rocky Mountains and the Western Slope, Colorado's incredible outdoors have been part of our state's identity from the beginning. We were also among the first states to recognize that the outdoors are crucial to our economy. Now, on our 150th anniversary the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office (OREC) in partnership with Outside Inc, is hosting the second annual Outside Days, a celebration of everything Colorado in Denver, May 28 to 31, 2026.
The Colorado Outside Festival, now called Outside Days, is recognized as one of the premier national gatherings for outdoor industry leaders and enthusiasts. Last year 35,000 people attended, contributing over $30 million to Colorado's economy.
Link in bio to find out how the Outdoor Recreation Industry Office partners with industry leaders and communities to ensure sustainable growth and access for all. 👆🏽
📣 Save The Date 📣
We hope to see all of our friends, partners, and community members at the 9th annual Colorado Outdoor Industry Leadership Summit. This year, we will be in beautiful Keystone, Colorado, on Wednesday, September 30th - Friday, October 2nd.
Venue: Keystone Lodge & Spa
A call for proposals will be announced in the next couple weeks!
We hope to see you all there! 👋
📍Minturn, CO is a historic mountain town with an age-old rural challenge. Regional growth and a “land value trap” are making it tough for Main Street to support local businesses and its workforce. But Minturn is resilient.
See how they’re partnering with the Rural Technical Assistance Program (RTAP) to tackle this head-on, leveraging their incredible outdoor assets to create a new economic blueprint.
Stay tuned for updates on the exciting developments and the work Minturn is pursuing to keep its heart, its small town vibrant and thriving. 🙌
For over 25 years, a ski area in Huerfano County sat idle, but thanks to the Panadero Ski Corporation and a 2024 Colorado State Outdoor Recreation Grant (COSORG) from OEDIT’s @corecindustry , the chair lift at @cucharamountainpark is back in operation!
Cuchara Mountain Park offers nine beginner and intermediate lifts at different price points for all to explore another wonderful place to ski. The COSORG grant supported operational expenses, to help the ski area reopen.
Link in bio to learn more with @skimagazine about this impactful collaboration 👆
This historic gold-mining town is ready for its next boom: building a resilient, diversified economy rooted in the outdoor recreation economy. Victor’s journey proves that the vibrancy of our small, rural economies is the lifeblood of Colorado’s outdoor success.💪
Through our Rural Technical Assistance Program (RTAP), Victor is actively working to diversify its job market, support small businesses, and leverage amazing assets.
This isn’t just a local effort, it’s a model for community resilience. Follow along as Victor carves out a sustainable, exciting new future beyond mining.📍
“Even in uncertainty, people still crave meaning, healing, and connection, and nature offers that. And in this climate, our work feels more necessary than ever.” Angel Massie, Wanderland Outdoors
In this second part of Voices of the Outdoors, we chat with an outdoor business owner, and a mindful living expert, and gardener, Angel Massie.📣
She is the co-founder and CEO of Wanderland Outdoors, an outdoor experience company based in Colorado that expands access and belonging in outdoor recreation for Black, brown, and underrepresented communities.
Together, we explore industry gaps, discuss barriers, the future of outdoor recreation, and actions we can take to create sustainable change. Learn what our industry can gain from Black outdoor leaders and the shifts we can make to build stronger, more inclusive outdoor communities. 🙌 Link in the bio.
We are amplifying the voices and stories of Black outdoor business and organizational leaders—voices that have too often been overlooked within the outdoor industry.
In this three-part series, we highlight three incredible Black outdoor leaders across Colorado. Together, we explore industry gaps, their personal journeys into the outdoors, the current political and economic climate shaping the industry, the future of outdoor recreation, and the actions we can take to drive sustainable, meaningful change.
In Part One, we connect with Jessica M. Newton, a valued partner of the Outdoor Recreation Industry Office and Founder and Executive Director of Vibe Tribe Adventures, a Colorado-based outdoor education, recreation, and leadership organization.
Join us in learning what our industry can gain from Black outdoor leaders and the shifts we can make to build stronger, more inclusive outdoor communities. 🙌
