Washington, D.C. — The Center for American Progress will host a conversation highlighting the growing importance of public lands and waters to recreation and non-recreation businesses. U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) will give remarks and answer questions in a moderated Q&A session. Afterward, a panel of experts will discuss steps the federal government can take to better account for and encourage growth of the outdoor economy.
America’s national parks, national forests, rivers, oceans, and protected public lands are a powerful engine for growth in the U.S. economy, generating $646 billion in consumer spending each year and supporting 6.1 million jobs across the country. These impacts are especially vital to nearby rural communities. However, the benefits of outdoor recreation are not always measured in government analyses or accounted for in decision making. As a result, policymakers may be overlooking opportunities to spur job creation and growth in the outdoor economy.
WHO:
Welcoming remarks:
Carmel Martin, Executive Vice President for Policy, Center for American Progress
Opening speakers:
Secretary Sally Jewell, U.S. Secretary of the Interior
Sen. Ron Wyden, U.S. Senator from Oregon
Featured panelists:
Cam Brensinger, Founder, President, and CEO, NEMO Equipment
Paul Smith, Independent Venture Investor, Veteran Start-up CEO and member of the Conservation for Economic Growth Coalition
Margaret Walls, Research Director and Senior Fellow, Resources for the Future
Moderated by:
Jim Tankersley, Economic Policy Correspondent, The Washington Post
WHEN:
Thursday, April 16, 2015
2:30 p.m. ET – 4:00 p.m. ET
WHERE:
Center for American Progress
1333 H St. NW, 10th Floor
Washington, D.C., 20005
RSVP to attend this event.
For more information on this topic or to speak with an expert, contact Tom Caiazza at [email protected] or 202.481.7141.
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