Arkansas’ First Gentleman Bryan Sanders sees opportunities in the state’s outdoor economy

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

Bryan Sanders, the state’s first First Gentleman, was given a task by his wife, Gov. Sarah Sanders, early in her administration: grow Arkansas’ outdoor economy.

And that’s what he aims to do.

It’s an unpaid job, but Bryan Sanders is well-suited for the role. He loves to fish and hunt. He’s an avid hiker and mountain biker. And he loves the beauty of the Natural State. Gov. Sanders put Bryan in charge of the Natural State Advisory Council, a group of public and private stakeholders in the tourism industry that is identifying ways for Arkansas to stand out from its neighboring competitors and to provide world-class attractions to outdoors lovers.

“I think the focus of Natural State Initiative all along has been collaboration,” Bryan said in an interview with Northeast Arkansas Talk Business & Politics. “It’s not meant to be top down, heavy-handed government. It’s really how you bring together all the different stakeholders and find ways that we can collaborate and really move the needle in terms of, No. 1, establishing Arkansas even more as a world-class destination for outdoor recreation but also just growing our outdoor economy and tourism industry.”

Arkansas’ First Gentleman Bryan Sanders sees opportunities in the state’s outdoor economy

First Gentleman Bryan Sanders and his son, George.

Officials say Arkansas’ tourism strategy should play to its outdoors strength

by Steve Brawner (BRAWNERSTEVE@MAC.COM)

Arkansas should focus on its strengths, particularly its easily accessible and affordable outdoor spaces, the state’s first gentleman said Wednesday (April 24) at Power Up Little Rock, an economic development series presented by Arvest Bank, at the Clinton Presidential Center.

Bryan Sanders, who chairs Gov. Sarah Sanders’ Natural State Advisory Council, said as a political strategist, he looks for his candidates’ unique selling proposition. Arkansas should do the same.

“What is it that makes Arkansas unique? To me, it’s our outdoors,” he said. “You look around us in this region of the country. Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Louisiana – none of these states have anywhere close to the access to outdoor recreation that we have here in the state of Arkansas.”

Officials say Arkansas’ tourism strategy should play to its outdoors strength

Gov. Sanders names husband to lead outdoors effort

by Steve Brawner (BRAWNERSTEVE@MAC.COM)

Gov. Sarah Sanders signed an executive order Tuesday (Jan. 24) establishing the Natural State Initiative and the Natural State Initiative Advisory Council and said her husband, Bryan, will lead the effort in a volunteer capacity.

The order says the council will advise the governor about promoting outdoor recreation and the outdoor economy.

The order says the first gentleman will chair the council with no compensation. Gov. Sanders will appoint the council’s members, who will serve on a volunteer basis.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/01/gov-sanders-names-husband-to-lead-outdoors-effort/