Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry

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Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry

  • Outdoor recreation plays an important and growing role in Michiganders’ quality of life, leisure time and health. The Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry – a first for our state – works with industry partners from many sectors to anticipate emerging trends, create effective policy and elevate outdoor recreation opportunities and resources across Michigan.

  • Contact the Office
  • Meet the Director

National Partnerships

  • Michigan’s outdoor recreation manufacturers, retailers and destinations are major players in the national outdoor recreation economy. By joining the Confluence of States and signing the Accords this October, Michigan will partner with other like-minded states to support, grow and promote this significant industry. It also aligns our work with other states that value conservation and stewardship, health and wellness, and workforce and economic development.

    Through participation in the National Governors Association's Outdoor Recreation Learning Network, we also will work alongside other states to learn from each other and share best practices.

  • Confluence of States
  • Outdoor Recreation Learning Network

Michigan's Outdoor Recreation Industry

  • Great Lakes, rivers and streams, more than 8 million acres of publicly accessible lands, and 12,000-plus miles of trails – when it comes to outdoor recreation opportunities, Michigan has a lot to offer. These resources provide connections with nature, healthier lifestyles, clean air and water and a natural heritage shared across generations. They are also a vital part of Michigan’s economy with thousands of outdoor recreation industry manufacturers and retail and service-sector businesses.

  • In Michigan, outdoor recreation annually generates:

  • spend icon

    $26.6 BILLION
    in consumer spending

  • jobs icon

    232,000
    direct jobs

  • wages icon

    $7.5 BILLION
    in wages and salaries

  • tax icon

    $2.1 BILLION
    in state and local tax revenue

Business Resources

  • Michigan’s attractive business climate is surpassed only by its natural beauty and active lifestyle. With four beautiful seasons, 11,000 lakes, and the country’s longest freshwater coastline, Michigan offers ample opportunities to enjoy recreational activities like boating, fishing, hunting, hiking and more. Michigan is also home to world-class museums, more than 100 wineries, a growing dining and craft beer scene and has the lowest cost of living in the Midwest. When it comes to living and doing business, nothing compares to Pure Michigan.

     Explore Pure Michigan

DOING BUSINESS IN MICHIGAN

  • Michigan icon Pure Michigan, Pure Opportunity

    Discover the reasons Michigan is the right choice for your business with its business-friendly environment and low cost of living.

  • shaking hands icon Change the Future

    A rewarding career in a field that changes the future is important. But being able to have a life outside of it is pretty important, too. Michigan is the place for both.

  • Icon Storefront Resources and Tools for Starting a Business

    The Michigan Small Business Development Center provides several no-cost services to individuals not yet in business.

MICHIGAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Businesses are choosing Michigan for our diverse and abundant workforce, business-friendly environment, low cost of living, global supply chain assets and the natural resources that make our quality of life second to none. Add that to the state's available business resources and our eagerness to get to work, and you have a recipe for success.

Outdoor Recreation Advisory Council

  • The Outdoor Recreation Advisory Council makes recommendations to the Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry, the DNR and MEDC on ways to improve partnerships, collaborative strategies and policies that will increase the outdoor recreation economy, employment and consumer spending, and support conservation and public recreation assets.

     LEARN ABOUT THE COUNCIL