Arizona has a new National Monument!

A boost to Arizona’s economy and our outdoor recreation opportunities

After decades of advocacy led by the 13 tribes of the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition, with support from local businesses, organizations, and communities, Northern Arizona has a NEW national monument. 

The Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument formally protects 917,618 acres of federal public lands around Grand Canyon National Park from uranium mining and secures its sacred areas and outdoor recreation opportunities for generations to come. Baaj Nwaavjo translates to “where tribes roam” in Havasupai and I’tah Kukveni translates to “our ancestral footprints” in Hopi.

This monument is a BIG win for Arizona’s businesses too and the campaign to create it was supported by many of our members and other local businesses. 

Gateway communities near national monuments usually get a huge lift to diversified business opportunities, increased spending on recreational opportunities, population and visitor growth, stronger employment, and higher per-capita income (read more here). Meanwhile, the Grand Canyon National Park alone pours $710 million into Arizona’s economy and draws in nearly 4.5 million annual visitors – this Monument will help cement Arizona, and our local businesses, as the outdoor recreation capital of the Southwest.

However, the work isn’t done yet – your voices helped convince the President to make this designation, now let’s make sure he hears our thanks too! We need to keep him, and other decision makers involved, as a champion of outdoor recreation for the rest of his time in office.

BUSINESS LETTER TO THE WHITE HOUSE

President Joseph R. Biden Jr. 

The White House 
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW 
Washington, DC 20500

CC: Department of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Senator Kyrsten Sinema, Congressman Raul Grijalva

Dear President Biden,

As local Arizona businesses and members of the Get Outdoors Arizona Business coalition, we thank you for creating the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. It honors the sacred history of the members of the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition while also boosting our local outdoor recreation businesses and gateway communities. 

The economic importance of the Grand Canyon region to tourism and outdoor recreation simply cannot be overstated and protecting it from uranium mining means safeguarding Arizona’s economy. Grand Canyon National Park alone brings $710 million into Arizona’s economy and draws in nearly 4.5 million annual visitors.  Our sports and tourism sector, including outdoor recreation, contributed $24.2 billion to Arizona’s economy in 2022 — that’s 6.4% of the state’s economy — and 347,500 jobs — 11% of Arizona’s workforce. 

Thank you for protecting, and investing in, our businesses and the outdoor recreation opportunities that have become a vital part of Arizona’s thriving economy.

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