Outdoor Recreation Office
OVERVIEW U.C.A. 63M-1-3301 Brad Petersen recently accepted the position of director for the newly created Utah Outdoor Recreation Office within the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. The responsibilities of the previous Outdoor Recreation Cluster director are being consolidated in this new position that was created in the 2013 legislative session. The new Outdoor Recreation Office and associated vision statement highlight the importance of promoting economic development in the outdoor industry and improving recreational opportunities in Utah. As a result of the new comprehensive approach to managing the state’s recreation economy there is significant industry enthusiasm and optimism for continuing to build the Outdoor Products and Recreation Cluster. The Utah based outdoor industry continues to gain momentum.
FY2013 highlights: • Liberty Mountain Sports, a leading independent distributor of technical outdoor products and climbing brands in the U.S. has relocated its Utah headquarters to Sandy as a result of continued growth. In a strategic plan to invest in the expansion of distribution systems and to accommodate additional product lines Liberty Mountain constructed a new, larger and more efficient building. • The Winter and Summer Outdoor Retailer Trade Shows continue at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City through the end of 2016. The contract extension comes after 18 months Brad Peterson climbing Moonlight of vigorous work with Salt Lake City Buttress in Zion National Park. to answer concerns about inadequate housing and infrastructure for the OR Winter and Summer Market shows— two of the fastest growing shows in the country. In the last four years, the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market Show has seen a 13% average growth in overall attendance and an average 11% growth for the Winter Market show, with both
Governor’s Office of Economic Development • 2013 Annual Report • www.business.utah.gov
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