Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV) introduced legislation with Congressman Rudy Yakym (R-IN) this week to promote economic development by strengthening the tourism, hospitality, events and outdoor recreation sectors. This funding could also have a resounding impact on the future for the RV and boat storage industry.
The INVEST in Our Communities Act establishes a new Hospitality and Outdoor-Recreation Supporting Tourism program at the Economic Development Administration. The act will likely empower local planners in areas tied to the tourism economy to build resiliency against future economic uncertainties.
The Act would also improve infrastructure for outdoor recreation, as well as invest in workforce development programs to help fill the nearly 1.2 million open positions in the tourism and hospitality sectors.
“Our legislation will ensure that U.S. travel and tourism industries can continue on the path to recovery while building resiliency to future economic shocks and public health emergencies,” said Rep. Titus.
“Encouraging infrastructure investment in America’s Great Outdoors is part and parcel to a thriving outdoor recreation industry. I am proud to partner with Congresswoman Titus on this important bipartisan legislation that will help support manufacturers and Hoosier jobs right here in Indiana’s Second District,” said Rep. Yakym.
While Rep. Yakym is primarily focused on increasing the tourism economy in his home state of Indiana, the proposed legislation targets a much wider breadth with efforts to pump up services in the outdoor recreation industries nationwide.
Efforts to enhance outdoor recreation, travel and tourism can have a lasting effect on the toy storage industry. Interest in spending times in the great outdoors grew exponentially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Simultaneously, RV and boat sales soared. That interest has not waned post-pandemic. RV and boat sales continue to increase, indicating the need to store outdoor-rec vehicles will continue to swell long into the future.
