Our region stands out amongst others with 317,252 acres of public land consisting of 19 state parks, 7 state forests, 2 National Parks and 1,300 miles of developed hiking & biking trails including the internationally recognized C&O Canal and Great Allegheny Passage trails, fishing, skiing & snowboarding, rock climbing, world-class whitewater kayaking, recreational boating and off-road vehicle trails.

This partnership will provide research, education, and training to unlock the potential of the outdoor recreation industry. FOREI will strategically position Mountain Maryland and the I-68 Region as a place where outdoor businesses and recreation ecosystems can thrive.

FOREI will serve as a regional hub to coordinate and lead economic & community development; support outdoor economy focused education; train the regional workforce to fill the needs of the outdoor recreation economy; foster academic research; and catalyze entrepreneurialism & business development in the outdoor recreation sector.

This initiative leverages existing partnerships like Western Maryland Works & Makerspace at Allegany College of Maryland, the Outdoor Leadership & Adventure Education program at Garrett College, the Center for Advancement of Natural and Outdoor Experiences (CANOE) at FSU, and WVU’s Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative (OEDC).