Earlier this month, Gov. Josh Shapiro launched the state’s new Office of Outdoor Recreation.

Jim Decker, president/CEO of the Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry, was one of 50 members on the steering committee that formed and shaped the focus of that office.

He outlined how the office could stand to benefit outdoor recreation here.

“It helps to really reinforce the focus on outdoor recreation across the Commonwealth,” he said, “really having the conversation in Harrisburg at the highest levels.”

“Our state parks and outdoor recreation industry are key to Pennsylvania’s economy – hosting nearly 40 million visitors each year and boosting local businesses and the local economy in and around our parks,” Governor Josh Shapiro said. “When we invest real money to make our natural resources more accessible for Pennsylvanians, it helps communities and businesses grow and thrive.”

How those funds are allocated is one of the challenges that Decker outlined.

He explained that most state grant and loan programs have a specific emphasis on direct job creation.

That’s a problem for outdoor recreation initiatives.

Decker outlined the challenge through the proposed downtown Warren boat launch, which will create construction jobs but not direct employment once it’s built.

“Community development assets don’t in and of themselves create jobs,” Decker said, but “create a community that allows employers to recruit people and become more vibrant.”

He said that the administrative agencies – Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Department of Community and Economic Development – can “create their own program criteria” to address the job creation piece.

“It’s something that can happen almost immediately,” he said. “Having that defined office, we’ve got a seat at the governor’s table.”

Pennsylvania is now the largest state, by both economy and population, with an Office of Outdoor Recreation.

According to the Governor’s office, the Office of Outdoor Recreation “will be focused on growing the state’s outdoor sector, which adds $14 billion to Pennsylvania’s economy and accounts for 152,000 jobs.

A report with findings and action steps to guide the new office is being prepared.

“People and organizations across the Commonwealth see the need for statewide coordination to connect communities to meaningful and competitive growth opportunities,” Pennsylvania Director of Outdoor Recreation Nathan Reigner said. “We have gathered a significant amount of input and will continue to engage with stakeholders and communities to build up the sixth largest outdoor recreation economy in the country, while maintaining the fun and adventure the outdoors provides.”

“I think he gets it,” Decker said of Gov. Shapiro. “(He) seems to embrace that outdoor recreation is a real thing here and needs to be promoted more aggressively and supported better than it has been from the state level.”

And he cited success with the Trails at Jakes Rocks as evidence for how this effort might look down the line.

“We’re enjoying a very solid and positive relationship with both state and federal people on the Trails at Jakes Rocks,” Decker said. “That’s a bit of an anomaly.

“(We) can be a poster child for how state and federal (officials) can work together cooperatively with locals to make really good things happen.”