Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) and 41 outdoor companies have submitted a letter to Congress, urging a resolution to the government shutdown and expressing concern about the detrimental short- and long-term ramifications of the shutdown to businesses and the U.S. economy.

 

 

The letter states that the government shutdown is bad for thousands of businesses – large and small, urban and rural – that depend on access to the nation’s parks, and public lands and waters. Furthermore, with public lands closed, outdoor businesses are experiencing decreasing sales, cancelled trips, lost revenue and a deepening uncertainty heading into the important holiday shopping season.

 

 

“We are deeply concerned that further delay ending the government shutdown will push the next crisis right on top of the holiday retail season,” said Kirk Bailey, OIA’s vice president of government affairs. “For many businesses in America, the holiday season represents 30-35 percent of all sales for the year, and holiday sales determine final profit levels and fiscal health for retailers and brands. The nation does not need another obstacle to the ongoing economic recovery.”

 

 

The outdoor recreation economy, which relies heavily on America’s public parks, trails and waterways, generates more than $646 billion a year in direct consumer spending and supports more than 6.1 million Americans whose jobs depend on a healthy outdoor recreation economy. Consumer spending on outdoor recreation generates $80 billion in federal, state and local tax revenue annually.

 

To view the letter, visit www.outdoorindustry.org/endshutdown.