Northeast Region In the Northeast, seven LGUs responded to the survey. Within Extension, two LGUs are currently engaged with their National Forest Gateway communities. Five LGUs are interested but would need external funding to support increasing capacity to engage (see figure 1). Regarding recreation economy research in the Northeast, two LGUs are already conducting research in National Forest Gateway communities. Three LGUs have research expertise that could be applied to forest gateway communities; however, external funding would be needed to support this work. Two LGUs currently need to gain expertise or capacity for research related to developing recreation economies in forest gateway communities. Still, they would be willing to increase their capacity and knowledge if external funding was available (see figure 2).
“It will be great to have some sort of personnel support for this type of program and we know there is a need”
Extension
FIGURE 1: Extension and Recreation Economies in the Northeast
FREQUENCY
0
No thanks, this does not fit into our current Extension priorities
5
We are interested in being more involved but would need external funding to support increasing our capacity in order to engage
2
Yes, Extension is already working with our National Forest Gateway communities
0
7
Interest in expanding the role of Extension in support of recreation economy development included hiring a new faculty or staff position to increase capacity to develop programming and work in gateway communities, additional funding could be utilized to work on economic/community development programming to help the towns (or the area) develop and implement a solid plan, and another university indicated that they could fund part of an Extension professional salary on a fixed-term basis to implement recreation economy development and with longer-range funding could consider developing a State Specialist for Tourism Business and Community Development through potential collaboration/joint appointment.
Research
FIGURE 2: Research and Recreation Economies in the Northeast
FREQUENCY
2
No, we do not currently have expertise or capacity for research related to developing recreation economies in forest gateway communities but would be willing to increase our capacity and expertise if external funding was available to support this
We have either Extension or academic faculty with research expertise that could be applied to forest gateway communities but would need external funding to support this work
3
2
Yes, we have expertise and capacity in Extension and/or Academic faculty and are already conducting research in National Forest gateway communities
0
7
Research expertise that could be applied to the development of recreation economies in the Northeast includes ecological economics (including economic impact analysis), recreation planning, business retention and expansion, and main street vibrancy, agricultural economics, rural sociology, fishery research, agroforestry extension efforts, and invasive species with interest in utilizing funding to support existing faculty, hire grad students, and create new faculty positions.
Land-Grant University Capacity to Support Recreation Economies in National Forest Gateway Communities
3
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