San Juan County, NM: Outdoor Recreation/Tourism
Outdoor Businesses Thrive in San Juan County
Four Corners Economic Development appreciates the value that current and future outdoor recreation businesses bring to the San Juan County, NM, region. A 2023 report by the Bureau of Economic Analysis found that an additional 2.4%, or $6.5 billion of value, was added to New Mexico’s state GDP as a result of the outdoor economy.
San Juan County is a particularly advantageous location for entrepreneurs looking to start or relocate their outdoors business due to:
- A wide range of natural outdoor amenities enjoyed by a sizable residential and tourist base.
- Nearby National Parks, National Monuments and Wilderness Areas that boast some of the most awe-inspiring landscape in the American Southwest.
- Easily accessible river and lake systems which offer world-class fly fishing for trout and plenty of water sports.
Community Leaders Committed to Your Success
The Outdoor Recreation Industry is a priority for regional leadership groups. Four Corners Economic Development has partnered with a broad range of community organizations to create a robust support system for entrepreneurs.
The Four Corners region helps promote outdoor recreation businesses by:
- Growing and attracting outdoor businesses via the Outdoor Recreation Industry Initiative (ORII), launched by the City of Farmington. Farmington is the first community in New Mexico to open an Outdoor Recreation Office and has a one-quarter percent tax increment to help fund further outdoor recreation initiatives.
- Providing close support to guides, outfitters and gear manufacturers to help increase the size and success of their businesses
- Leveraging the San Juan College Quality Center for Businesses’ Big Idea Innovation Accelerator to assist entrepreneurs, researchers and inventors to take their outdoor recreational products and projects from concept to commercialization.
- Promoting to prospective entrepreneurs the presence of five Opportunity Zones, with available buildings and sites in the region. One is located at the Four Corners Regional Airport in Farmington, offering 200 acres of land for an outdoor recreation business’ operational headquarters with convenient access to air service plus Highways 64 and 170.
Contact Four Corners Economic Development today for more information on how outdoor recreation businesses are supported and thrive in the region!
