Hunting Works For America Expands Presence in Pacific Northwest with Washington Chapter
SPOKANE, Wash. - The Hunting Works For America program continues to grow its presence with the addition of a Hunting Works For Washington chapter. The newest chapter, launched today in Spokane at the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council, boasts an impressive list of local co-chairs and over 50 partner groups. The Hunting Works For Washington chapter joins 11 other state chapters, including Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah and Wisconsin.
"Hunting and the shooting sports are critical to the continued prosperity of untold numbers of businesses and communities," said Chris Dolnack, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, which developed the Hunting Works For America program. "The 219,000 people that hunt every year in Washington are a critical part of many local economies. Hunting Works For Washington reminds all state residents that decisions that impact hunting will also impact those economies."
The Hunting Works For America program advocates for hunting and the shooting sports by bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders, including chambers of commerce, sportsman organizations, retailers and small businesses. Together these partner groups help educate the public and policy makers on why hunting and shooting sports are so economically important. The diverse co-chairs of the group reflect how broad-reaching hunting's impact is. Co-chairs include Rep. Shelly Short, 7th District; Kent Claussen, principle, kVc Development Company and Sterling Hospitality; Scott Miller, owner of Miller Ranch; Robin Ball, owner of Sharp Shooting Indoor Range & Gunshop; Nathan Green, president of the Deer Park Chamber of Commerce; David Cloe, vice president of the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council; Sparky Sparkes, host of M2D Camo's Livin' the Dream; Mark Pidgeon, president of Washingtonians for Wildlife Conservation; and the Hunters Heritage Council.
"Hunting in Washington has a $614 million ripple effect," said Dolnack. "Hunters spend over $163 million on trip-related expenses, and over $156 million on hunting equipment. All that spending supports 5,600 jobs in Washington and translates into nearly $211 million in salaries and wages."
Hunting Works For America launched in 2010 in three states: Arizona, Minnesota and North Dakota. Washington is the second state to launch this year. A new chapter in Maine was started at the end of July. All totaled, the Hunting Works For America program now represents more than 1,500 businesses, organizations and associations representing tens of thousands of stakeholders.
Becoming a member of Hunting Works For Washington is free of charge, so please visitwww.HuntingWorksforWA.com to learn more about how to become a partner in helping to protect the tradition and benefits of hunting in Washington.