From the SEMA Washington, D.C., office

The Off-Road Business Association (ORBA), a wholly owned subsidiary of the SEMA, has released its first-ever economic impact study for off-roading in Moab, Utah. The study, performed for ORBA by Oxford Economics, highlights an immense economic value of motorized recreation for Moab's local community as a complement to the cultural significance of off-roading.

Key findings of the study include:

• $178.7 million in total annual economic impact
• $140.9 million in Direct Spending Impact
• $13.5 million in state and local taxes
• Supported over 1,100 jobs in 2025
• $36.5 million in wage and benefit income

The direct spending that was measured in this study revealed off-roading generated $54.5 million in transportation, $40 million in stores and retail, $20.5 million in food and beverage, $13.7 million in lodging, and $12.2 million in recreation.

"This study demonstrates why the off-road industry is worth protecting and a necessary stakeholder in discussion of land use and stewardship across America," said Sean P. Holman, ORBA's executive director. "While this inaugural study focused on Moab, its findings underscore the significant economic benefits that motorized off-road recreation brings to communities across the country. These results serve as a powerful reminder of the industry's value to local businesses, workers, and economies, and complement existing national studies to provide a more complete picture of off-roading's economic importance to our nation."

The findings show that off-road recreation is more than a recreational activity. It is a measurable economic contributor that supports jobs, generates tax revenue and helps sustain local businesses throughout the Moab area. Quantifying the economic contribution of off-road recreation in Moab reinforces the importance of maintaining access to trails, public lands and recreation opportunities that support local businesses, workers and communities.

Why This Study Matters

ORBA's regional economic impact research seeks to document, using credible local data, how motorized recreation contributes to jobs, small businesses, tourism and economic vitality across America. This is the first time this critical, untold story has been told, illustrating what off-road recreation represents and why a robust industry follows in the wake of millions of enthusiasts who explore our trails and public lands. For many communities, motorized recreation is more than a leisure activity, serving as an important economic driver.

Regional studies like this one help tell this story in a way national data cannot, revealing what motorized recreation means at the ground floor, demonstrating the economic relationships between recreation opportunities, local businesses, and community prosperity. Behind every visitor are workers, entrepreneurs, and families whose livelihoods are intertwined with recreation-related spending.

Methodology

This study was performed by Oxford Economics, using multiple primary and secondary data sources. The study was conducted using an IMPLAN Input-Output model to determine the direct, indirect and induced impact of the off-roading industry on the local Grand County economy. The modeling process assesses the scope of off-road visitor spending (at restaurants, retail, hotels and recreation venues) and supplier operations (such as automotive shops, guides and outfitters) on the local economy and supply chain. The model calculates the off-road sector's impact on overall economic output, employment, household income and tax revenue in the Moab area.

What Moab's Community Members Are Saying

Jason Curry, director of the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation: "OHV recreation is a huge factor in Moab's outdoor economy, contributing to local businesses, jobs and families. This study helps us better understand that economic contribution and how to best plan for the future. By working together with our partners to maintain trails and encourage responsible and safe riding, we can care for these landscapes and keep recreation opportunities available for generations to come."

KaLeigh Welch, owner and director of operations, Ride Moab Industries: "Motorized recreation is more than an economic driver for our family and our business; it's a way of life. It supports local families while giving people a meaningful way to experience the outdoors, build confidence and find a sense of freedom and connection. We're incredibly grateful to make our living sharing something we love while helping others develop a genuine appreciation and respect for the public lands that we're fortunate to enjoy."

Jennifer Johnson, owner, Epic 4x4 Adventures: "Responsible motorized recreation and public land stewardship go hand in hand––and both are woven into Moab's economic fabric. At Epic 4x4 Adventures, we're proud to create good jobs, invest in our community and contribute to the economic vitality of Moab and the broader state of Utah while introducing visitors from around the world to this extraordinary landscape. Those visitors stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants, shop in our stores, buy fuel and support countless local businesses. The $178.7 million economic impact and more than 1,100 jobs reinforce what we see every day: responsible recreation helps sustain Moab's economy and the people who call this community home."

About ORBA

ORBA is a national advocacy organization dedicated to protecting and expanding motorized recreational access, while advancing the interests of the off-road industry through legislative advocacy, strategic partnerships and data-driven initiatives. Working with stakeholders, policymakers and land managers, ORBA champions responsible recreation, balanced land management and common-sense policies that protect public land access and the businesses that depend on it. ORBA promotes the industry's economic contributions and ensures it has a voice in decisions affecting the future of off-road recreation. Join ORBA today at www.offroadbusiness.org to help protect the future of off-road recreation.

ORBA Signs Landmark Agreement With BLM for Responsible Public Lands Stewardship and Recreation

The U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has entered into a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Off-Road Business Association (ORBA), a landmark agreement between the public and private sectors to provide a framework for existing land management to become more consistent, scalable and measurable nationally while supporting practical coordination at the state and field-office level.

The formalizing of the relationship between ORBA and BLM will help advance work already underway to connect national discussions with localized efforts, improve early communication with proponents, expand education and stewardship opportunities, and establish tangible results that can be reviewed over time.

"Public land stewardship works best when we bring people to the table early and focus on solutions," said Steve Pearce, BLM Director. "This agreement strengthens our partnership with ORBA and gives us a better way of working together. By collaborating with ORBA earlier and more consistently, we can improve access and give our field offices and local communities the tools they need to support responsible recreation on America's public lands."

"ORBA is thrilled for the opportunity to engage formally with our partners at the Department of the Interior and BLM for a shared mission to better understand and promote responsible recreation and stewardship of public lands," said Laura Butcher, ORBA's legislative director. "Our public lands are a national treasure, and we all benefit when all stakeholders are pulling in the same direction in service of preserving access for all."

The MOU is designed to support responsible outdoor recreation, public lands stewardship, workforce awareness, recreation infrastructure improvements and data-driven evaluation of the economic contributions associated with motorized recreation on public lands.

The MOU covers several critical objectives, in which BLM and ORBA will:

• Workforce awareness and career outreach.
• Stewardship and public lands projects.
• Recreation opportunity coordination.
• Economic impact and research collaboration.

Among the immediate initiatives is the development of a practical "Do I Need a Permit?" session and pursuing opportunities to offer it across the popular Overland Expo series of enthusiast events. ORBA will also provide practical support and basic education for Title III and Special Recreation Permits, Paleontological Resource Use Permits and Scientific Research Permits and Authorization.

The MOU will provide a more consistent framework for connecting these efforts, helping to translate national-level conversations into practical work with BLM offices, industry partners, permittees and recreation communities, while giving both ORBA and BLM clearer opportunities to identify where coordination is useful and productive.

There is no federal funding tied to this MOU, and therefore serves as an example of how private-public partnerships can help meet national challenges through collaboration, communication and resource sharing. The agreement would not change BLM's permitting authority or ORBA's ability to advocate independently. It would provide a clearer structure for the areas where coordination between BLM and ORBA can be productive.

Background on the Five-Year MOU

While this formal relationship is new, DOI and BLM are already familiar with ORBA, which has worked with both agencies at the national level, coordinating directly with state and field offices and helping businesses and permit proponents navigate issues on the ground. 

In June, ORBA participated in meetings in Washington, D.C., with the White House, DOI, BLM, congressional offices and House Natural Resources Committee staff focused on travel management, motorized access and other public-lands issues.

Much of the work envisioned during the crafting of the MOU is already underway. ORBA has a well-established working relationship with BLM's Nevada and California offices, including years of involvement in special recreation permitting and education, economic impact work, and technical meetings.

Get the complete details in the release here.

SEMA Releases 2027 Advocacy Agenda

SEMA has pulled the curtain back on its advocacy strategy for 2027, releasing its 2027 Advocacy Agenda at the 2026 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The advocacy agenda is an important piece of SEMA's acclaimed efforts to inform and engage its members on the federal and state issues that impact the automotive aftermarket industry and the nation's enthusiasts. 

The advocacy agenda annually serves as a reference point throughout the year, with SEMA providing regular updates on the progress of the issues outlined within. 

For the full story on the 2027 SEMA Advocacy Agenda, click here.