2024 will be the year of Outdoor Rec Regional Listening Sessions across the state!
These sessions will serve two purposes –
- Resource sharing – short presentations on resources available to communities and industry – examples: Outdoor Rec Grants Program infrastructure grants, AGFC marine fuel tax program and water trails partnership, AGFF shooting sports development, AEDC industry incentives and community development info, U of A’s undergrad and masters programs and other university workforce development programming.
- Information gathering – public input and comments on what resources are being utilized and/or what do they need more of.
We hope to invite and gather members from the community and industry side of each region of the state. Community members would be advocacy groups (like the Arkansas Canoe Club, local trail chapters, etc.), mayors, county judges, city councils, chambers of commerce, etc. – the ones who are responsible for helping build and create local parks, trails, fishing docks, archery ranges, etc. Industry members would be bike shops, boat manufacturers, river guides, duck lodges, outfitters, etc. – anyone with an outdoor rec company or aspiring outdoor rec entrepreneurs. The resources shared during the sessions will appeal to both of those categories.
At the end of our tour across the state, our team will put together a list of things we learned throughout this process and what we all can implement in 2025.
