YELLOWSTONE GATEWAY BUSINESS COALITION

In 2016, the Yellowstone Gateway Business Coalition was founded in response to two industrial-scale gold minesproposed on the doorstep of Yellowstone National Park. The Coalition helped local businesses advocate for theircommunity, economy, and way of life. In just three years, over 420 businesses and organizations united, resultingin the Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act, which passed the United States Congress with strong bipartisansupport in 2019.

In today’s political environment, it is challenging to find paths forward that unite people, but that is what theYellowstone Gateway Business Coalition has done in the past, and we are confident we can do it again.Out of consideration of the recent firings of community members, friends, and stewards of our National Forestsand National Parks, founding members of the Yellowstone Gateway Business Coalition are reigniting theCoalition. While our mission remains the same, our objective has shifted. We’re deeply concerned about theprotection of our National Forests and Parks and those entrusted with the day-to-day management of theseresources. The individuals who make up our federal workforce also deserve, like anyone else, to be treated with respect and dignity.

Even more troubling, we are seeing indications that additional layoffs are planned in an already underfunded andunderstaffed system, jeopardizing the management, protection and very existence of our public lands.With fewer dedicated professionals on the ground, these lands become more vulnerable to mismanagement, degradation, and exploitation. The health of our businesses and communities is therefore compromised as they are dependent upon the health of our public lands. The consequences of this trend will be felt not only by local communities and businesses but by all who depend on public lands for recreation, quality of life, mental health, self-sufficiency, sustenance, economic stability, and natural resources.

As local business owners, we are raising our voices again in defense of our community, county and way of life and to support those whose livelihoods are impacted and to advocate for our National Parks and Forests.We’d be honored to include your business in this important endeavor. While it may seem daunting, collective action among businesses can achieve remarkable results. And what better place for this effort to begin thanYellowstone, our nation's crown jewel and first National Park.

You can enlist your business below.

On behalf of the Yellowstone Gateway Business Coalition,