The Extension Foundation has published a new research report titled Land-Grant University Capacity to Support Recreation Economies in National Forest Gateway Communities. This study provides insights into how well Land-Grant Universities (LGUs) are positioned to promote and develop outdoor recreation economies near U.S. national forests. It also identifies specific locations that are best equipped to allocate resources for recreation economy programs.

The report aims to assess the ability of LGUs to align with a 2022 USDA memorandum of understanding (MOU), which emphasizes outdoor recreation economies as a key agency priority. Historically, recreation and tourism have not been focal program areas for Cooperative Extension, raising questions about LGUs’ readiness to engage in this space.

The assessment was conducted earlier this year by Doug Arbogast, Rural Tourism Specialist at West Virginia University, in partnership with the National Extension Outdoor Recreation Working Group (NEORWG) and the Regional Rural Development Centers (RRDCs), with support from the Extension Foundation. Funding for the project came from the New Technologies in Agricultural Extension (NTAE) program.

“In 2022, the USDA positioned the outdoor recreation economy as a top priority. Yet, LGUs have traditionally not focused their programmatic efforts on recreation and tourism,” said Arbogast. “This national assessment aimed to understand their capacity to engage in this work. Our findings reveal significant opportunities for Cooperative Extension and LGU researchers to partner with communities, fostering sustainable growth in recreation economies.”

Arbogast and his team developed a survey with input from NEORWG and RRDC members, targeting LGUs in states with national forests. They specifically reached out to Extension leaders working in Community Development program areas, gathering responses between May and June 2024. The survey explored Extension’s current and potential capacity to support recreation economy initiatives, identified research opportunities, and assessed how additional funding could expand Extension’s efforts in this sector.

The full report and associated maps are available on the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development website.

Related Reading

• NTAE 2023-2024 Yearbook – Q&A 
• The NET Effect: Members of the National Extension Tourism Network Help Raise the Bar in Sustainable Tourism and Outdoor Recreation
• NTAE – Out of the Mines Feature Story
• NTAE – My Hometown is Cool Feature Story

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Explore the complete library of Extension Foundation publications here.