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Join the Great Lakes Economic Development Council (Great Lakes EDC) for the latest installment of our Be Greater! digital learning series.
Traditional economic impact analysis helps communities understand the dollars and cents of outdoor recreation — the jobs created, spending generated, and investments attracted. But in the Great Lakes region, the true impact runs much deeper. Outdoor recreation here isn’t just an economic driver; it’s a foundation for public health, environmental resilience, and equitable access to nature across two nations and eight states.
This session explores how to broaden traditional economic impact models to reflect the full value of the outdoor recreation economy in the Great Lakes. Experts will share methods for quantifying not only financial outcomes, but also health, environmental, and social benefits that strengthen communities from bustling urban waterfronts to small-town main streets and rural trails.
Attendees will gain insights into how to communicate these holistic impacts to policymakers and investors to advance recreation-based development while safeguarding the region’s freshwater assets. Statewide Outdoor Business Alliances will be highlighted as models for collaboration — connecting data, storytelling, and advocacy to build a more sustainable and inclusive outdoor economy across the Great Lakes basin.
Our Presenters:
Nicole Muise-Kielkcuki, Director
Nicole serves as project manager on many of the firm’s strategic planning projects, helping clients access their unique financial, natural, and human capital assets to create sustainable and resilient local economies that increase quality of life for all. With over ten years of economic development experience, Nicole specializes in designing meaningful community engagement to build a shared vision for the future. A pragmatic leader, Nicole uses her skills and experience managing projects and teams to eff ectively inspire collaborative action. She brings a systems approach to analyze situations and design new processes, and thrives in entrepreneurial environments where she can learn from peers and solve problems creatively.
Before joining Fourth Economy, Nicole worked at a regional start-up incubator, where she led social enterprise and impact investing initiatives to support entrepreneurs building triple-bottom-line companies. She currently serves on the board of the Union Project, a local arts organization and community gathering space. www.fourtheconomy.
Maura Kay, Senior Consultant
Naturally curious, Maura is a critical thinker, excelling at balancing quantitative and qualitative skills to provide contextualized data fi ndings that recognize lived experiences. Maura’s passion for economic development originates from her Mon Valley, Pennsylvania roots. Maura is particularly interested in serving as a steward for postindustrial places finding their place and power in twenty-first-century economics. By centering project purpose and community engagement, Maura communicates and maps data so it can be used, rather than sit on a shelf. Maura’s previous experience is centered around Main Street management, community wealth building, and aff ordable housing.
