CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. — Gov. Josh Shapiro outlined new steps this week to expand Pennsylvania’s $19 billion outdoor recreation industry, a fast-growing sector that has added $2 billion to the state economy and nearly 4,000 jobs since he took office.
Speaking at REI’s Mechanicsburg store alongside state and industry leaders, Shapiro said his administration is making outdoor recreation a cornerstone of Pennsylvania’s economic strategy. The sector now represents 2 percent of the state’s GDP and supports more than 168,000 jobs, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reported.
“Pennsylvania is a national leader in outdoor recreation — and my administration is competitive as hell to make sure we’re at the very top,” Shapiro said. “When we invest in outdoor recreation, we create good-paying jobs, support thriving main streets, and build stronger rural and urban economies.”…