Outdoor Economy Trailblazers: Lauren Getts

New Hampshire’s outdoor spaces help shape our communities, our local businesses, and the way we connect with the places we love. The Outdoor Economy Academy (OEA) brings together people who care about these landscapes and want to help their towns thrive. The Outdoor Economy Trailblazers profile series introduces those participants — what inspires them, what they’re working on, and how they’re helping strengthen the outdoor economy across the state — giving you a quick look at the folks turning ideas into action.

Meet Lauren Getts, Greater Manchester Chamber

Question: Tell us a little bit about why you decided to participate in the Outdoor Economy Academy.

Lauren: As the VP of Economic Development & Strategic Communications at the Greater Manchester Chamber, I’m always looking for ways to deepen my understanding of the economic drivers that shape our region. When I learned about the Outdoor Economy Academy, I was immediately drawn in. Outdoor recreation and open spaces aren’t always the first things people associate with economic development, but I knew instinctively that the connection was there and worth exploring. Greater Manchester sits at the intersection of a thriving urban core and incredible natural assets, and I wanted to better understand how to champion that story and leverage it in the work we do every day on behalf of our business community.

“Accessible trails and open spaces...are genuine economic drivers...”

Question: What is one key takeaway you gleaned from the Academy?

Lauren: Accessible trails and open spaces aren’t just quality-of-life amenities…they are genuine economic drivers that attract talent, support local businesses, and make communities more competitive destinations. 

Question: Thinking about what's next for you, how do you plan to apply OEA knowledge or concepts in your own work?

Lauren: The Academy gave me a new lens through which to view Greater Manchester’s outdoor assets,  and a stronger vocabulary for talking about their economic impact. Moving forward, I plan to more intentionally weave the outdoor economy narrative into the Chamber’s economic development and strategic communications work, whether that’s through advocacy, storytelling in our Manchester Magazine, or connecting our members to the kinds of partnerships and resources that were highlighted throughout the Academy. I also left with an incredible network of collaborators, from conservation professionals to municipal leaders, and I look forward to leveraging those relationships to benefit the Greater Manchester community.

Want to see how the Outdoor Economy Academy is helping communities across New Hampshire use outdoor assets to drive economic development and improve quality of life? Visit Harnessing the Power of Place: An Outdoor Economy Academy Overview.