Staff Reports
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is splashing $200,000 of hard-earned taxpayer money into the newly created Office of Outdoor Recreation, hoping to launch an Outdoor Business Alliance. In a self-congratulatory speech at Gilson Snow, a ski and snowboard company in Selinsgrove, he touted the initiative as a way to “invest” and make outdoor recreation the centerpiece of the state’s economic strategy. Yeah, because nothing screams economic prosperity like funneling money into businesses based on outdoor activities, right?
Shapiro claimed the alliance would make it easier for Pennsylvania companies to work with each other and avoid doing business with companies in other states. He thinks this will magically boost the economy and open up more markets for Pennsylvania companies. Sure, because what business wouldn’t want to limit their options and tie themselves to a single state, right? Who needs competition when you’ve got government handouts and preferential treatment?
Pennsylvania launches Outdoor Business Alliancehttps://t.co/eCOLy8jYVR
— The Center Square (@thecentersquare) March 20, 2024
The goal, according to Shapiro, is for state officials to “complement the good work that’s happening” and not interfere with what’s already going on. Translation: they’re trying to meddle in the business of private companies without actually admitting it. Classic government move.
The Office of Outdoor Recreation was launched last year, and now the state is going all-in on the outdoor recreation economy. DCNR Secretary Cindy Dunn even hailed it as potentially bigger than the natural gas industry and other big sectors combined. This sounds like a pipe dream, but what do I know? I’m just a hardworking taxpayer.
Shapiro is determined to outpace neighboring states and help businesses “get moving more quickly,” because apparently, government intervention is the solution to everything. Dunn, on the other hand, raved about Pennsylvania’s natural assets, claiming they are the “backbone” of the outdoor recreation industry. It’s as if they think the state’s parks, mountains, and trails are some kind of magical money-making machines.
The alliance supposedly aims to hook up businesses related to outdoor activities with new opportunities, from ice cream shops to beer companies. The OOR Director, Nathan Reigner, chimed in with the usual rhetoric about creating jobs and establishing companies that Pennsylvanians can be proud of. Because nothing screams pride like businesses propped up by government funding, right?
