For the first time since 1998, the DNR has hired Dr. Charles Nelson of MSU to conduct an economic impact study of ORV’s/Snowmobile activity on Michigan’s economy. The results of studies such as this have a dramatic impact on our sports in many areas.
They are based on the amount of money spent by the user for purchase of machines, riding gear, trailers, parts, food, lodging, camping equipment, local shopping. Even the cost of operating your tow vehicle for normal maintenance. Local shopping would be the trips taken to town visiting those quaint little shops.
If a trend develops, it is often used by the business community to attract that business for their benefit. With P.A. 240 now being well established in most northern Michigan counties, along with the various DNR designated trails, we will see many small town communities benefiting quite nicely from increased ORV activity. That also relates to down state business people enjoying the expenditures related to the trip north by ORV users.
MSU’s Dr. Nelson needs all the data he can gather from those that were chosen at random from Secretary of State records as an ORV owner to make his report a good picture of what is going on.
If you or someone you know received one of his questionnaires, please take the time to fill it out and make comments if you wish. Your answers will make a lot of determination on the future of our sports for the next several years.
Dr. Nelson’s last report filled 43 pages and has been used countless times by Chambers, Visitors Bureaus, County Commissions, legislators and user groups as a source of reference and we expect, the newest version to be available in 2010. It will only be as good as the information you provide. So please, get your information submitted if you were one of the lucky ones to receive the questionnaire.
Dick Ranney
Chair, MDNR ORV Trail Advisory Board | 
