Project Updates

The Trailblazer Working Groups are collaborative teams formed to develop and refine strategies for Maine’s 10-Year Outdoor Economy Roadmap. Each group focuses on a specific priority area identified during the planning process. Each working group was led by co-chairs from the Roadmap Steering Committee, who are experts in their respective fields and consist of community members dedicated to advancing the outdoor economy in Maine. Their primary role is to review, discuss, and provide input on strategies and recommendations to ensure the roadmap is comprehensive and effective, and to provide guidance during the implementation of the roadmap.

Each working group will focus on strategies related to the following:

Supporting outdoor businesses (enhancing manufacturing, technology and innovation, R&D, supply chains; domestic and international trade; business expansion; startups, and small businesses)

Workforce Training, Education, and Talent (career pathways; workforce development and wraparound supports; education and training; attracting and retaining talent)

Marketing (communication, promotion, and raising visibility and the profile of the sector both in and out of state for talent and business attraction and inbound and local visitation)

Natural Resources/Access/Infrastructure (natural resource stewardship and conservation; increasing physical access and connectivity to outdoor experiences through infrastructure, transportation, navigating private land issues, DEI)

Rural Revitalization (local/regional economic development; connecting to Maine’s downtowns, main streets, and cultural assets; trail/transportation development