A recent report from the Outdoor Industry Association shows that outdoor recreation is a powerful force in Pennsylvania's economy, and with the incredible number of outdoor adventure-based businesses in our very own backyard, it is easy to see why.

According to the state-by-state Boulder, Colorado, group's Outdoor Recreation Economy Report, released on Wednesday, Pennsylvania's outdoor-themed activities contribute 251,000 jobs and generate $29.1 billion in spending, along with $1.9 billion in state and local tax revenue. These figures place Pennsylvania well above the mean average for jobs, spending and tax revenue."Tourism is a big industry in our area," state Rep. Doyle Heffley, R-Carbon, said. "We have the ski resorts, the D&L, the bike trails, the Spartan Race, and more. We've done a lot of work with DCNR and other programs in order to work on the D&L trails. We encourage people to hike the trails, get out biking and rafting. We really want to promote that just about anything you can do outdoors, you can do that in Carbon County."Nationally, the outdoor activities business sector accounts for more than $887 billion in consumer spending, dwarfing even the pharmaceutical industry by over $400 billion per year.In a place like Carbon County, this may come as no surprise, considering the wealth of outdoor activities available year-round. Of course, skiing accounts for some big bucks come winter, but the midst of summer offers kayaking, rafting, mountain biking and ziplining for locals and visitors alike to take in the wealth of nature. The benefits of such a rich group of environmental resources means that outdoor recreation is the backbone of the local economy, connecting local residents, tourists, business owners, government, and more people and places in a vital network.According to the OIA, the key to maintaining outdoor recreation economies is steeped in adequate funding for parks and trails, awareness of the importance of the outdoor recreation economy, planning living areas with easy access to recreation destinations, and a strong support network to encourage more outdoor innovators to open businesses in the state.Outdoor businessKathy Henderson, director of the Economic Development at the Carbon Chamber and Economic Development, said that the area's outdoor attractions mean big business for the community, and those who come up to enjoy some outdoor recreation tend to stimulate the local economy through additional spending."The D&L trail brings in about $7.5 million to Carbon County alone," Henderson said. "Obviously, there are quite a few people who are biking. They'll stay at our hotels, eat at our restaurants and shop at our stores. Everyone benefits, including the gas stations, the beer distributors and the grocery stores. Once you bring people into the county for those activities, the other businesses take care of themselves."Danielle Wolfrum, director of development and administration at the D&L trail, agreed, pointing out that many businesses work with the chamber and create a network that visitors and locals alike will often use."We also work with the Carbon chamber to build and maintain the trail. All of the businesses located along the trail are directly affected by the trail. People who ride will come to those restaurants, coffee shops, bike shops and other places," she said.A wide selection of outdoor adventures means plenty of job opportunities at recreation destinations and the surrounding businesses."We have a lot of seasonal full-time people, and lots of people who come every weekend," McAward said. "It's a nice job for local people, since it's close by and it pays pretty well. There are very few jobs for young people like this, where you get this life experience. They're dealing with people from all over the world, and they learn about safety, guidance and responsibility. I'm a huge fan of what this job does for kids. It teaches them to stand on their own two feet. It's a great education."Resorts like Blue Mountain contribute quite a bit when it comes to seasonal and year-round employment, thanks to the addition of special activities throughout the warmer months."My whole business is outdoor recreation, 100 percent," said Barb Green, president and CEO of Blue Mountain Ski Area. "Between Jack Frost/Big Boulder and ourselves, outdoor activities are a major employer in this area. I can tell you that just this resort has about 300 people who both live and work in Carbon County."Tourists vs. localsWhile tourism accounts for plenty of jobs, tax revenue and consumer spending, many locals tend to miss out on the opportunities that are incredibly close by."We live here, so it's always here," Henderson said. "But, take a day and be a tourist in your own backyard. As a lifelong resident of the area, I'm still surprised by what I find. Park your car and take a walk through Jim Thorpe. Visit Weatherly, or explore Lansford on a First Friday. It doesn't cost a lot of money to enjoy what we have. Get out of the house and have some fun."Business owners like Whitewater Rafting Adventure's Jerry McAward aim to entice anyone to partake in outdoor activities, but it can be difficult to attract locals."We do little trips, and we have offers for local businesses. We advertise locally. However, a good number of local people do use the river, but some people say that they won't pay money to raft a river that they've tubed for free," he said.Wolfrum said that drawing in both tourists and locals is necessary to keep the backbone of the community's economy strong."I definitely think that there is a balance. We partner with the chamber and the tourism board, but we also love to educate the local community on the resources that we have here. You don't need to leave this area, you can hop on the trail in your own backyard," she said.Henderson said that reaching out to the community through social media is a lucrative method to encourage participation in outdoor adventures. She pointed out that the chamber's website and Facebook pages extend their reach to more than 200,000 people. Being digitally connected to so many people, whether they live around the corner or hundreds of miles away, can be quite valuable."We do have a program with St. Luke's called 'Get Your Tail on the Trail,' " Wolfrum said. "It's free, and you can track your miles and do challenges. For example, between May 1 and Nov. 1, we have the 165 Mile Challenge, where if you complete 165 miles of exercise along the trail, you can earn prizes. We really emphasize getting outdoors, hiking and biking, and tracking your progress."In the OIA report, Pennsylvania is noted for having a higher rate of hunters and motorcycle riders. Debra Brittingham, marketing and communications manager at Keystone Harley-Davidson, said that both locals and tourists with a passion for the outdoors often frequent the shop."The broad appeal for bikers is freedom. People love to get away from the day-to-day, and once they're out there, it's just them and the road. We have a lot of local residents that who are regular customers for not only motorcycles, but parts, accessories, and general merchandise. We're also a destination stop for people who come out to our area," Brittingham said, pointing out that bikers love to pick up a memento from their visit, including T-shirts, poker chips, and more.Taxes and feesThe OIA report notes that it is integral for local government and businesses to raise awareness about the importance of outdoor recreation activities. Establishing an outdoor recreation based business can be rather tricky, especially when it means balancing environmentalism with recreation."They want to be good stewards of the environment, but they also need to get the job done," Heffley said. In order to help promote tourism and outdoor activities, Heffley said that his office has routinely worked with businesses in order to make legal issues easier to understand. "The regulatory process has to be fluid, more easy to navigate."But once those businesses are up and running, they can be quite profitable - not only for the owners, but for residents and local government alike."Each of the outfitters pays the state park a fee per head in order to be licensees of the state park system," McAward said "Then there is the sales tax people pay when they buy things, and the taxes we pay as employers. There's a lot of taxes and fees that go to a variety of places in our area, the waterways being one of them."And those taxes can go toward maintaining the waterways and trails that people tend to frequent, creating a beneficial symbiotic relationship - the more people who show up to bike and raft, the more tax dollars that can go back to keeping the rivers and trails in good shape."We want to make sure everything stays as green as possible," Green said. "We're all environmentalists."So, while you are out there enjoying the bike trail at D&L, or rafting down the river this summer, you can rest assured that your outdoor activity enthusiasm benefits just about every facet of the local community, from the environment to the business sector."The outdoor recreation economy is a powerful economic engine across our country," Amy Roberts, OIA executive director, said. "Today's report reminds us all that no matter where we come from, or our political affiliation, we all thrive outside. We see that in every state, the outdoor recreation economy is contributing to healthier economies and healthier communities."