Photo by Ming Poon

NEWS

Vermont’s outdoor recreation economy businesses are making waves. Subscribe to VOBA’s email newsletter by emailing info@vermontoutdoorbusinessalliance.org or filling out a contact form.

Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economy September News 2024

Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economy Summer News 2024

Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economy May News 2024

Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economy April News 2024

Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economy Feb News 2024

12/20/23 Press Release: Vermont Celebrates Banner Year for Outdoor Recreation in 2022

Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economy December News 2023

11/3/24 Press Release: Senator Patrick Leahy Trailblazer Legacy Award to Johannes von Trapp

Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economy News: Destiny Unbound - Outdoor Equity and Climate Action Benefit Event

Vermont Flood 2023 Resources and Recovery News - July 14, July 18, July 19, July 24, July 28, August 3

Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economy News - June 2023

Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economy News - Spring 2023

3/20/23 Press Release: Outdoor Recreation is at the Center of Vermont Tourism

Vermont Outdoor Economy News and Legislative Report - March 2023

Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economy News - Winter 2023

12/6/22 Press Release: Senator Leahy Presents VOBA’s Second Annual Trailblazer Legacy Award to Outdoor Gear Exchange Owners

Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economy December News

11/15/22 Photos: Vermont Outdoor Economy Sessions

11/14/22 Press Release: Vermont's Outdoor Recreation Leads Economic Recovery Across All Communities

10/13/22 Press Release: VOBA and Powered Magazine partner in media project focused on outdoor recreation and careers for BIPOC Vermonters; Summer and fall guided outings build skills and showcase opportunities in outdoor jobs

Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economy September News

Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economy Summer News

Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economy May News

Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economy April News

3/29/22 Press Release: Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance receives $150,000 VOREC grant for workforce development and business assistance in the outdoor recreation sector

Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economy February News

Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economy December News

11/18/21 Press Release: Federal data report: Vermont outdoor recreation sector stood tall as significant economic driver during shutdowns of 2020

11/3/21 Press Release: VOBA to Present U.S. Senator Leahy with Inaugural Trailblazer Award

Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economy October News

Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economy August News

6/11/21 Press Release: Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance Releases Collaborative Report Elevating Importance of Outdoor Recreation to Local Economies

Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economy June News

Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economy April News

Vermont’s Outdoor Recreation Economy and Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion February News

Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economy January News

1/28/21 OpEd: Outdoor Sector Businesses Applaud Governor’s Investment in Outdoor Recreation

Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economy December News

Support Vermont’s Outdoor Recreation on #GivingTuesday

11/17/20 Press Release: VOBA Expands Board of Directors, Knight, McLaughlin, Whalen Bring Deep Expertise to Initiatives

Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economy November News

Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economy October News

9/9/20 OpEd: Recreation Access Needs State Support, Ric Cabot & Shelby Semmes

Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economy Fall News - September

Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economy Summer News - July

Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economy Policy and Budgets - June

Economic Recovery for Outdoor Recreation - May

Vermont Economic Restart: Outdoor Recreation - May

Outdoor Industry Recovery Survey and Resource Updates - April

Spring newsletter

Winter newsletter

December newsletter

November newsletter

October newsletter

September newsletter

August newsletter

Read about VOBA happenings in Vermont and industry news below. Get frequent updates on VOBA’s Facebook page.

7/23/2020: Vermont Business Magazine - “Vermont outdoor companies turn to digital trade show in age of COVID-19”

7/23/2020: Vermont Business Magazine - “Vermont outdoor companies turn to digital trade show in age of COVID-19”

The spring issue of Mountain Flyer: The Mountain Bike Journal, published by Height of Land Publications in Jeffersonville, includes a profile of the Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance in "Effecting Change: Why States are Prio…

The spring issue of Mountain Flyer: The Mountain Bike Journal, published by Height of Land Publications in Jeffersonville, includes a profile of the Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance in "Effecting Change: Why States are Prioritizing Recreation as a New Economy." Managing Editor Trina Ortega compiled interviews from Vermont, North Carolina, and Michigan to portray outdoor business alliance efforts to champion the fast-growing outdoor recreation economy.

Drew Simmons, president of Pale Morning Media, authored a feature on Vermont Glove's pivot to face mask manufacturing in The Weekly, a national outdoor trade publication, writing, “Despite the razor-thin margins, the emotional toll, and the business…

Drew Simmons, president of Pale Morning Media, authored a feature on Vermont Glove's pivot to face mask manufacturing in The Weekly, a national outdoor trade publication, writing, “Despite the razor-thin margins, the emotional toll, and the business risks, Vermont Glove is fully embracing its community role in helping battle the spread of COVID-19. It’s also shining a bright and positive light on the role of American manufacturing." Sam Hooper, president of Vermont Glove states, "One main thing has been helping people understand that products can be made at livable wages and provide meaningful careers. The whole reason we want to grow is to affect people’s lives right here in Randolph, Vermont.”

SGB media

October 14, 2019 - Vermont’s Outdoor Recreation Businesses Host Statewide Summit and First Outdoor Expo

The Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance (VOBA) hosts a two-day event this week, starting with the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economy Summit with sessions on branding, workforce, financing, conservation, stewardship, and infrastructure. Day two features mountain biking and an outdoor expo of demos and products from Vermont’s outdoor recreation brands.


Vermont Business Magazine 

August 8, 2019 - Vermont’s Outdoor Recreation Businesses Hiring, State Offering Incentives to Move

Vermont has long been home to some of the best-known outdoor recreation companies, including international brands such as Orvis, Burton, and Darn Tough. Now, a new initiative is underway to network, grow and raise awareness of Vermont’s diverse businesses, large and small, that help make the state a leader in outdoor recreation. That’s the mission of the Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance (VOBA), a new non-profit group of private-sector businesses.

CALEDONIA RECORD

June 29, 2019 - Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance Strides into Summer

The Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance (VOBA)’s efforts to strengthen Vermont’s outdoor recreation economy gained momentum in June by hosting a roundtable at Burke Mountain Resort and assembling entrepreneurs at the first-ever ThinkVermont booth at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market in Denver.

Vermont Sports

April 23, 2019 - Why Buy Local? Here’s Why.

Beyond buying Vermont kale and ales, why not consider shopping locally for your outdoor gear?

Spring is a time when Vermonters connect to the land and celebrate all things local in a way few other states can or do. We sign up for CSAs, start to shop at farmers markets and explore the new summer ales, the brewery down the road releases. Which got me to thinking, why don’t we take the same “local first” approach to buying our outdoor gear?

VT DIGGER

April 2019 - Outdoor Recreation Group Tours the State to Hear from Businesses

A group of Vermont outdoor businesses is holding meetings around the state to hear from others in the industry about what will help them prosper.

The Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance was created last year. A roundtable discussion the group held in Burlington in November attracted more than 50 people, the group said. Another in Killington in early March drew 50 as well. It will hold similar meetings in June and in September and plans a statewide summit at the end of the year.

Shop-Eat-Surf

April 9, 2019 - New Initiative Underway To Grow Vermont’s Outdoor Business

Vermont has long been home to some of the best-known outdoor recreation companies, including international brands such as Orvis, Burton, and Darn Tough. Now, a new initiative is underway to network, grow and raise awareness of Vermont’s diverse businesses, large and small, that help make the state a leader in outdoor recreation.

That’s the mission of the Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance (VOBA), a new non-profit group of private-sector businesses. “We’re working to educate Vermonters about outdoor recreation and engage businesses in development initiatives, collaboration opportunities…