Outdoor Recreation
With rugged coastlines, pristine forests, and majestic mountains, Maine has long been a top destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
Maine’s unparalleled natural beauty and four distinct seasons offer a wide variety of outdoor experiences – from kayaking to cross-country skiing, or birdwatching to mountain biking, or hiking to surfing – sure to delight and reenergize residents and visitors alike. In addition to fostering a deep connection to the environment and a spirit of adventure, the outdoor recreation industry fuels the Maine economy.
Outdoor recreation contributes $3.3 billion to Maine’s economy, nearly 4% of the state’s GDP.
In 2019, Maine joined the Confluence of States, a bipartisan organization developing a national platform to grow the outdoor recreation industry, protect our nation’s wild places, and transform conservation into a driver for economic prosperity.
5% of Maine jobs (more than 32,000 total) supported
Contributes $3.3 billion to Maine’s economy
Stunning natural beauty from mountains to sea
From outdoor equipment manufacturing to adventure tourism, this growing sector offers exciting opportunities for Maine businesses to reach new customers, design innovative products, and develop partnerships across the country and around the globe.
Whole New Level
Targeting sports fans in addition to restaurants, breweries, and outdoor enthusiasts, Hüga Heat looks to scale to a whole new level. “And we’re planning to expand into Canada with support from the Maine International Trade Center.”
Solo Stove x Brant & Cochran: A Match Made in Maine
Rekindling the lost tradition of the Maine-made axe, Brant & Cochran makes and restores vintage axes to be used and treasured for future generations.
Maine's 10-Year Outdoor Recreation Economy Roadmap
Maine Outdoor Brands, the University of Maine, and the Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation have joined forces to initiate the Maine Outdoor Recreation Economy Roadmap, an initiative set to catalyze sustainable growth and diversification within Maine’s vibrant outdoor recreation industry.
The Roadmap will identify trends, challenges, and opportunities for sustainable growth and diversification of the outdoor recreation economy; identify key strategies needed to fuel growth of the state’s outdoor economy; and form partnerships and collaborations for investment into Maine’s future.
Industry Support
Leverages Maine’s assets and outdoor recreation heritage to grow the outdoor recreation economy and build Maine’s outdoor recreation brand
Member-driven alliance of outdoor product makers, experience providers, retailers and organizations invested in strengthening Maine’s outdoor recreation economy
Business development and impact investment arm of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute to bridge the gap between innovative, blue economy businesses and the capital, technical
knowledge, and networks needed to help them grow
Member-based collective committed to sustainable economic growth and growing access to the benefits of the outdoors for everyone
International Investors
We’d love to hear from you to discuss your interest in this sector and Maine’s advantages.