policy results for 2023

Office of outdoor recreation industry is now part of the commerce department

$53 million in ADDITIONAL funding approved by the legislature for outdoor recreation

In our 6th year of advocacy and policy work, NC Outdoor Recreation Coalition is celebrating the robust funding provided in bi-partisan actions by the North Carolina legislature in the 2023 session.

We are celebrating:

• Relocation of the Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry from EPDNC (Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina) to the Department of Commerce (North Carolina Department of Commerce), which we believe will further develop the opportunities for collaboration and cooperation between local governments, state agencies, federal agencies, and non-profit organizations across our state. NCOREC helped establish and define the office at its inception.

• The increase in recurring funding for the Land and Water Fund of $3.8 million, which brought the total recurring funding for Land and Water Fund to $28 million per year. An additional $2 million in one-time, non-recurring funds was also allocated for 2023-2024. This brings the total funding for Land and Water Fund to $58 million for the two-year budget period.

• The increase in recurring funding for the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) of $3.8 million, which brought that total recurring funding to $28 million per year. An additional $2 million also allocated in one-time, non-recurring funds was also allocated for 2023-2024. This brings the total funding for PARTF to $58 million for the two-year budget period.

• Parks and Recreation Trust Fund was also boosted with a $12.5 million non-recurring, one-time allocation for providing grants to local governments to make their parks more accessible for people with disabilities, a key step in establishing equity in the outdoors used everyday in our towns and cities.

• $25 million in funding over a two-year budget for a new Great Trails Program, and $5 million in this fiscal year for the Complete The Trails program, both within the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR).

• The Saluda Grade Trail in Western North Carolina received funding of $12 million over the next two years.

• Communities across our state received an allocation of $13 million for various trail and greenway projects in 11 locations, many part of the Great Trails State Coalition.

• The North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation (NC State Parks) received funding for 37 new positions for the next two years, which was sorely needed to staff the substantial increase in users in our parks over the past several years, to ensure their safety, support the stewardship of our natural resources, and provide better customer service for visitors.

We compliment the elected representatives for their hard work this session on these actions for the benefit of their districts, for all of the people of North Carolina, as well as for the visitors who have come to love our land and water as much as we do. As in past years, we know that the path for economic growth for the state generally and the outdoor industry in particular will certainly be boosted by these investments.

planning our POLICY AGENDA for 2024

we are currently gathering input

from NCOREC Members for our agenda in 2024, as we work directly with North Carolina’s Legislature and Executive Branch. We want to hear from you!

Already on our list of potential issues:

• Infrastructure for boating inland waterways such as boat ramps and charging stations for e-Boats

• “Microgrant” program to help municipalities and nonprofit organizations develop initial concepts and designs for outdoor recreation trails and facilities, in be ready to pursue construction funding

• An “Outdoor Opportunity Fund” for workforce development in the outdoor recreation industry

• Advanced apparel and textile manufacturing “hub” to directly support the growth of outdoor recreation industry manufacturing jobs in North Carolina

• Mechanisms to enable citizens to easily make donations to support public lands, especially state parks

The Board of Directors of NCOREC have not made a final decision on the initiatives to support next year. Before we finalize our policy agenda, we want to hear from you.

What does your community need in order to think big for outdoor recreation? What does the outdoor recreation industry need? Please send us email directly info@ncorec.com.

Join NCOREC, and participate directly!

past policy agenda items

1. Support requests from the Director of Outdoor Recreation Industry for additional support.

2. Advocate for funding to complete an interactive map of the state’s outdoor recreation assets.

3. Advocate for funding to create a new outdoor recreation workforce development program at a North Carolina college or university, ideally at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU).

4. Advocate for funding and policies that help small businesses, including outdoor recreation business, recover from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

5. Advocate for health care policies that provide additional employer health insurance options for small businesses, including outdoor recreation businesses.

6. Advocate for the inclusion of funding for conservation land acquisition in a statewide bond package.

7. Support request from State Parks for funding increases for the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, as well as additional, one-time funding to address acquisitions and parks maintenance backlogs.

8. Support request from the Land and Water Fund (formerly Clean Water Management Trust Fund) for additional funding, which will fund land acquisition projects including State Parks, Wildlife Resources game lands, State Forests, and local parks and greenways.

9. Identify opportunities to work with the Executive Branch on the implementation of the new Climate Risk Assessment and Resilience Plan, and specifically the Natural and Working Lands Action Plan as it relates to outdoor recreation opportunities.