Abby Long, the Executive Director of the Kingdom Trail Association, recently attended a trade roundtable in Newport with business leaders and policymakers to discuss the impacts of changing federal policies on Vermont’s outdoor businesses. The outdoor sector is facing challenges such as tariffs, reduced Canadian visitation, and federal grant cuts. The Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance (VOBA) is hosting forums and training sessions to address these issues and support the outdoor industry in the state.
VOBA recently held a professional bicycle mechanic training session and is organizing a Professional Trail Skills Training program focused on water management. The organization is also advocating for legislation to prohibit PFAS in outdoor apparel. In addition, VOBA is offering professional trail crew saw training to prepare Vermont trail maintainers for storm damage cleanup.
Tourism Economy Day is coming up on April 10, where industry leaders will engage with legislators to highlight the tourism industry’s contributions to the Vermont economy. This event, hosted by Ski Vermont, Vermont Chamber, and the Vermont Specialty Food Association, will feature a full day of programming to celebrate and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the tourism industry.
Overall, VOBA is working hard to support Vermont’s outdoor businesses and organizations through training programs, advocacy efforts, and industry events. By addressing the issues facing the outdoor sector, VOBA aims to strengthen and sustain Vermont’s outdoor industry for years to come.
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