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Untamed Dividend: Minnesota’s Outdoor Economy in Focus

• Minnesota Outdoor Recreation Industry Partnership • Season 2 • Episode 16

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In this special episode, we dive deep into the newly released 2025 Minnesota Outdoor Recreation Economic Impact Report. This isn’t just a conversation about lakes, trails, and gear—it’s about jobs, GDP, and the powerful ripple effect outdoor recreation has on every corner of Minnesota’s economy and culture.

Key Topics Covered:

  • Why Minnesota commissioned its first comprehensive outdoor recreation economic report
  • The surprising scale of impact:
    • $13.5B in state GDP
    • $23.5B in total economic output
    • 96,000+ jobs supported
  • The biggest economic drivers: boating & fishing, hunting, RVing, ATV/motorized recreation, and snow-based sports
  • How the report was built using federal BEA data and the Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account (ORSA)
  • Why county-level data reveals powerful local and rural insights
  • The non-economic impacts: health, wellness, workforce development, rural revitalization, and community identity
  • What we can do with this data—and why it matters to decision-makers, business owners, and every Minnesotan

Why It Matters:
Outdoor recreation isn’t just a lifestyle—it’s a foundational economic engine. This episode shows how the new data equips Minnesota with the tools to grow this sector sustainably, equitably, and strategically.

Resources Mentioned:
📘 Read the Full Report
📧 Want to connect? Email Randolph or visit the Outdoor Industry Partnership website.

Credits:
Producers: Randolph Briley & Cody Nelson
Hosts: Sarah Strommen and Lauren Bennett McGinty
Original Music by Andrew Haaheim and Alsever Lake