A group of Nevada businesses will formally launch the newly formed Nevada Outdoor Business Coalition, on National Public Lands Day. The coalition will serve as the business voice for Nevada’s outdoor recreation industry, advocating for initiatives that improve Nevada’s outdoor recreation economy, expand outdoor recreational opportunities in the state, and protect public lands that the outdoor recreation economy depends on. The coalition will strengthen the connection between business owners, decision-makers and community stakeholders in Nevada’s outdoor industry.

“Our coalition strongly believes that protecting public lands means protecting our local economies.” said Brina Marcus, General Manager of Flightlinez, an outdoor business that operates zip line tours outside of Las Vegas. “There are so many Nevada businesses that depend on public lands and not just the outdoor outfitters and sporting equipment stores you generally think of but also the restaurants, gas stations, and hotels that outdoor recreationists patron.”

The outdoor recreation industry is an economic powerhouse for generating jobs, consumer spending, and tax revenue for the state of Nevada. According to the Outdoor Industry Alliance, the outdoor recreation economy generates 87,000 direct jobs in Nevada, ranking third in jobs sustained, just behind gaming and health care but more than mining and logistics and operations. In addition, the outdoor recreation economy generates $4 billion in wages and salaries, $12.6 billion in consumer spending, and $1.1 billion in state and local tax revenue.

Marcus is one of seven business representatives who serve on the Nevada Outdoor Business Coalition’s Executive Committee. These businesses were instrumental in the coalition’s founding, along with a $5,000 in-kind donation from Reno boutique design studio, Laxalt & McIver, to help with brand strategy and identity. With xx business members, the newly formed coalition will be working towards growing its membership base and advocating on behalf of the issues that affect the outdoor recreation industry.

“A stronger outdoor industry equals a stronger Nevada, and Get Outdoors Nevada is honored to work with business leaders to help launch this effort”, said Mauricia M.M. Baca, Executive Director of Get Outdoors Nevada, the non-profit organization spearheading the coalition.

As a first order of business, the coalition will be advocating for the reauthorization and full funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, an important conservation fund that is set to expire on September 30, 2018. Funded by revenue paid from offshore oil and gas drilling leases and not from taxpayer dollars, the Land and Water Conservation Fund has provided over $102 million in funding to Nevada for outdoor projects, such as protecting and maintaining tourism infrastructure for the Lake Tahoe basin and Red Rock National Conservation Area, sites that receive nearly 3 million visitors annually.

The coalition invites the public and local businesses to learn more about the connection between public lands and Nevada’s economy at two upcoming Nevada Public Lands Day events.

Outdoor Business Economic Forum on Sept. 28, 2018, 10 am to 1 p.m., at the Springs Preserve.

Public Lands Day Celebration on Sept. 29, 2018, 4 p.m. at Spring Mountain Ranch.

Businesses interested in joining the coalition can learn more and sign up to become a member through the Nevada Outdoor Business Coalition website and start to endorse timely issues surrounding the outdoor recreation industry, as well as promoting and protecting the state’s public lands and waters that are crucial in sustaining Nevada’s economy.