On April 29-30, Maine Outdoor Brands joined the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) in Washington, D.C. for the 2025 Capitol Summit. Together, we brought a united message to Congress: protect public lands, defend outdoor businesses from harmful tariffs, and recognize the massive impact of the outdoor recreation economy.
Throughout the summit, more than 80 outdoor industry leaders met face-to-face with lawmakers to share powerful, personal stories. MOB was able to meet with Senator Collins, Senator King, and Representative Pingree. Topics included:
- Tariffs: Small businesses, especially in states like Maine, are disproportionately impacted. Unpredictable tariff policies are stifling investment, damaging export markets, and undercutting local manufacturing. MOB was able to thank Senators Collins and King for voting to repeal recent Canadian and global tariffs.
- Public Lands & Recreation Access: Parks and public lands are the backbone of a $1.2 trillion outdoor recreation economy that employs over 5 million Americans. Cuts to federal recreation funding threaten local economies, jobs, and the future of outdoor access.
- Maine Outdoor Recreation Economy Roadmap: This 10-year plan developed for growing and strengthening Maine’s $3 billion outdoor recreation economy relies on a strong workforce and enhanced outdoor recreation opportunities. MOB was able to thank our Congressional delegation for their support of the initiative and share an update on implementation efforts.
Northeast team representatives including MOB, NEMO Equipment, L.L.Bean, W. L. Gore & Associates (Gore), Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance, Granite Outdoor Alliance, and CGPR.
Additionally, while we were in Washington, Senator King introduced the America the Beautiful Act, bipartisan legislation to strengthen and better manage public lands across the country. The America the Beautiful Act would reauthorize the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF) and increase its funding to address serious maintenance backlog and ensure that America’s public lands can be enjoyed for generations to come.
A powerful mix of legacy brands, business alliances and emerging startups demonstrated the depth and breadth of the outdoor industry. MOB met with our counterparts in NH (Granite Outdoor Alliance) and VT (Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance) to collaborate and share impacts across our states.
Tyler Ray from Granite Outdoor Alliance, Jenny Kordick from Maine Outdoor Brands, and Kelly Ault from Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance
Prior to the visits on Capitol Hill, MOB’s Executive Director, Jenny Kordick, spoke on a panel discussion to share insights with other industry leaders:
SESSION: The 2025 Outdoor Recreation Economy: Gateways, Public Lands, Workforce, & Local Investment
Session Description:
Public lands and gateway communities are vital to the outdoor recreation economy, but underfunding, staffing cuts, and housing shortages threaten future access and growth. This session will review recent policy decisions and explore how investment in public lands and rural development can sustain local economies, support workforce needs, and protect recreation access. Panelists will discuss how current staffing reductions and land disposal proposals are impacting local communities and share recommendations to address ongoing challenges.
Moderator: Sean Byrne, ACG Advocacy
Speakers:
- Ashley Korenblat – Western Spirit Cycling
- James Whaley III – Legislative Assistant, Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO)
- Kristen Brengle – SVP Government Affairs, National Parks Conservation Association
- Jenny Kordick – Executive Director, Maine Outdoor Brands
- Mirielle Burgoyne – Deputy Executive Director/Director of Government Relations, National Association of Development Organizations
