NEWS RELEASES
First-Of-Its-Kind National Summit for Gateway Communities
Editor's Note: This news item was retrieved and first published through RVBusiness' website.
The RV Industry Association sponsored this first annual summit, which took place at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. RVIA's Manager of Government and Public Policy Samantha Rocci recently attended the inaugural National Summit for Gateway Communities. The Summit, presented by The Conservation Fund in partnership with Scenic America, celebrates the role of gateway communities in the stewardship of America’s public lands and identifies opportunities to help them thrive.
Rocci participated on a panel entitled Building Political Will for Gateway Community Initiatives, along with Halle Czechowski of the Southeast Tourism Society, Destry Jarvis of Outdoor Recreation and Park Services, LLC, Kalene Griffith of Visit Bentonville, and August Carlino of the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area. In her presentation, Rocci focused on practical ways to enhance advocacy efforts, drawing attention to two sources of data attendees may not have known about. Specifically, she highlighted the RV Industry Association’s RVs Move America Economic Impact Study and the recent Bureau of Economic Analysis’ Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account as two resources available to gateway communities to enhance their advocacy efforts and asks for financial and programmatic support. Additionally, she stressed the numerous opportunities for partnerships between gateway communities and the outdoor recreation industry and its components.
For the full press release, click here.