Business owners are attracted to areas with protected federal lands that provide employees with excellent outdoor amenities and a high quality of life.
Protected Public Lands Attract Businesses
- Rural counties in the Western United States with protected federal lands, such as National Parks and Wilderness areas, are associated with higher job growth rates. Between 1970 and 2010, rural Western counties with more than 30 percent federally protected lands increased employment by 345 percent. In contrast, rural counties with no protected lands increased jobs by only 83 percent.[i]
- In fact, small business owners choose to operate in the Western United States because of access to National Parks, National Monuments, forests and wildlife habitat.
- According to the Western Governors Association, in 2011 outdoor recreation spending in the West produced:
2.3 million jobs | $110.3 billion in salaries, wages and business income[ii]
- According to polling by the Small Business Majority[iii]:
In Colorado 6 out of 10 small business operate in the state because of access to public lands
In New Mexico 4 out of 10 small business operate in the state because of access to public lands
In Arizona 4 out of 10 small business operate in the state because of access to public lands
In Nevada 4 out of 10 small business operate in the state because of access to public lands