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Economic Development

How Outdoor Recreation Supports Rural Economic Development

February 2019

Family riding bikes on trail

Investing in outdoor recreation is one of several strategies that can help rural communities thrive in a changing economy.

Recreation Counties Attract New Residents and Higher Incomes

January 2019

recreation counties, outdoor recreation

Recreation counties, especially in non-metro places, draw new residents and have higher incomes and faster earnings growth than places without recreation.

Trails Toolkit: Helping Communities Invest Wisely

December 2018

Communities and local leaders can utilize this trails toolkit to better understand whether and how trails can accomplish local goals, along with the cost and benefits of proposed projects.

Bureau of Land Management Socioeconomic Profiles

November 2018

Download socioeconomic reports for states and counties near Bureau of Land Management units.

Montana’s Outdoor Recreation Economy

October 2018

Family hiking in Montana at sunset

A new report highlights the role of Montana’s outdoor recreation economy in spending, jobs, and economic diversification.

City Trails: Improving Equitable Access

August 2018

Headwaters-staff-Chris-Mehl

Urban trail efforts increasingly are focusing on providing equitable access to trails. Trails and parks can create substantial benefits for public health, property values, and quality of life.

Economic Diversification and Outdoor Recreation in Bonner County

August 2018

Improving economic diversification and outdoor recreation in Bonner County will bring new spending and jobs to the community.

Populations at Risk

July 2018

Populations at Risk quickly and easily generates and downloads reports about populations more likely to experience adverse social, health, or economic outcomes.

Best Practices for Watersheds and Recreation

July 2018

Best practices for balancing the needs for clean drinking water, recreation, and economic development in municipal watersheds.

New Montana Homes Increase Wildfire Risks

June 2018

The number of western Montana homes in areas with high wildfire hazard has doubled, outpacing development rates in areas with low wildfire hazard.

Coal Communities Lack Strong Transition Plans

May 2018

A recent review published in the Resources Policy journal with researchers at Montana State University shows that coal communities lack strong transition plans and largely are unprepared for coming changes.

Gallatin County’s Economy, Growth, and Open Space

April 2018

The Bridger Mountains with an agricultural field in the foreground, in Gallatin County, Montana.

This report summarizes Gallatin County’s economy, how it has grown, and what is driving its performance. The report also describes how growth threatens open space and the role these lands play in local quality of life.

Measuring Whitefish Trail Use

April 2018

Outdoor recreation and the economic impact of Whitefish Trail use in Whitefish, Montana.

Montana Losing Open Space

April 2018

From 1990 to 2018, the number of single-family homes in Montana grew by more than 50 percent, and the popularity of large lots converted 1.3 million acres of undeveloped land to housing.

Montana Losing Open Space: Sortable Data

April 2018

montana-home-construction-sortable-data

Review the different rates of home construction and loss of open space across Montana counties.

Estimating Trail Use

April 2018

By pairing limited, local surveys with activity tracking app data, we are estimating trail use across large areas.

Benefits of a Frontage Path in Gallatin County, Montana

April 2018

Updated: This report describes the benefits of a frontage path–a proposed paved, multi-use pathway connecting Belgrade and Bozeman along an approximately ten-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 10 in Gallatin County.

Economic Challenges and Opportunities in Taos County

January 2018

The economic challenges and opportunities in Taos County stem from being both a bustling mountain resort town, and a rural community facing long-term socioeconomic challenges.

Great Lakes Cities Vulnerability Assessment Tool

December 2017

Great Lakes Vulnerability Assessment Tool

Identify neighborhoods in six Great Lakes cities that meet socioeconomic vulnerability criteria.

Lessons from the Timber Transition

December 2017

Western counties once dependent on timber today perform similarly to like-sized counties. Three case studies outline economic lessons from counties that weathered the timber transition.

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