Some Sunbelt parks are reporting strong snowbird season, while parks from the Northeast to the Pacific Northwest are already receiving advance reservations for Memorial Day and Fourth of July holiday weekends

“I think we’re looking across the country to an improved camping season next year. “The state of the affairs of our economy has not hurt the camping business at all.”

‒ David L. Berg, Chairman, National Assn of RV Parks and Campgrounds

LARKSPUR, Colo., Dec. 10, 2009 – By anyone’s

standards, 2009 has been a tough year for the U.S. economy.

But while most Americans have tightened their budgets in response to job losses, difficulties obtaining credit or simply because of economic uncertainties, campgrounds and RV parks have remained economically resilient.

“We are very grateful for the level of business we’ve had,” said Jayne Cohen, president of Adventure Bound Camping Resorts in Center Harbor, N.H., which owns and operates nine RV resorts in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Arizona.

“When we closed down our November numbers,” she said, “we were even with last year in revenue.”

That’s a significant accomplishment, Cohen said, not only in this economy, but given the fact that most of her company’s parks are located in areas that suffered unusually cold and wet weather last summer. “We strongly feel that if we had not had bad weather, we would have been ahead of last year’s figures,” she said.

Most of the nation’s campgrounds, in fact, reported business levels that were stable or slightly ahead of last year’s

figures, and most private park operators expect their business levels to remain steady or experience continued growth next year.“I’m very optimistic and very grateful for how we finished out this year,” said Mark D. Anderson, president of Camp Chautauqua Camping Resort in Stow, N.Y., adding, “Our reservations are looking very good for next year. We’re already just about full for Fourth of July weekend. And to be almost full at this time of year is pretty good.”

Across the country, Harriette Groth of SunBasin RV Park in Ephrata, Wash. said she is

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already receiving reservations for Memorial Day weekend next year. “Two groups have already called in for reservations for Memorial Day weekend. We feel that’s encouraging,” she said.

David L. Berg, chairman of the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds, said he is also optimistic about the level of consumer interest in camping next year. “I think we’re looking across the country to an improved camping season next year,” he said, adding, “The state of the affairs of our economy has not hurt the camping business at all.”

Revenues at Berg’s own park – Red Apple Campground in Kennebunkport, Me. – were up 8.5 percent this year, compared to last year, and Berg expects the upward trend to continue.

“Our reservations for next year are at least as strong right now as they were a year ago,” said Jim Ozburn of Falcon Meadow RV Campground in Falcon, Colo. “I really think the camping business is going to get better. As long as gasoline and fuel behave, those who do the most traveling will still do it.”

Ozburn added that he, too, is already receiving reservation requests for next year, which he finds encouraging.

Carolyn Strong, co-owner of Sundermeier RV Park and Conference Center in St. Charles, Mo., is also receiving reservations for next year, including reservations from large rally groups. “We had a tremendous increase in business this year,” she said, adding that as of mid-December her park was already running about 10 percent ahead of its business levels in both 2007 and 2008.

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Some Sunbelt parks are also reporting strong reservation levels for this coming winter. “Right now, we just finished the best November we’ve ever had, and our advance bookings from now through March are probably 20 percent over last year,” said Doug Shearer, who opened Parkview Riverside RV Park in Concan, Texas in 2001. He expects this winter to be the best winter season he’s ever had.

Some park operators remain cautious, however.Bruce Aljets, who owns Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in

Sioux Falls, S.D., experienced a 17 percent jump in business this year, despite the recession.

“I don’t know what to expect next year,” he said. “Being in South Dakota, we generally lag behind the rest of the country. But I’m going to hope for the best.”

Cohen of Adventure Bound Camping Resorts, for her part, said her company is optimistic but cautious about the future. “We’re very enthusiastic and we’re very pleased with the results of this year. But we’re not taking anything for granted, either.”

The Pennsylvania Campground Owners Association dodged a weather bullet and successfully held its convention at Split Rock Resort in Lake Harmony on December 7-9. It had snowed lightly on December 5th and stormed immediately after the show, but, although chilly, the weather held up to make this 46th Annual show a success.

The show, replete with 11 Seminars, ranging from improving the value of parks to the correct application of chlorine to a swimming pool along with twelve round tables on subjects as varied as marketing with YouTube to activities that draw customers, were well attended and extremely interesting.

Over 140 attendees representing 76

Pennsylvania campgrounds were present plus 3 prospective owners.

Suzanne Mark, the new executive director of the Tennessee Association was also in attendance.

There was a 44% increase in exhibitors this year too, with 76 exhibitors showing their wares and services.

The variety was astounding with exhibits such as log cabin dealers, equipment dealers, shirt vendors, advertising, entertainers, food distributers, software providers, manufacturers of campground tables, credit card providers and printers.

Most reported doing brisk business, especially on the 2nd day of the trade show.

The fun portion of the PCOA Convention began

before the convention officially started with a New York City bus trip on Sunday, December 6th, sponsored by Evergreen Insurance and continued later the next day with a game of “Celebrity Deal or No Deal” with veteran football stars Gilbert Brown and Santana Dotson of the Green Bay Packers and Rocky Blier of the Pittsburgh Steelers playing the game with owners.The event benefited the

Gilbert Brown Foundation, which supports the St. Jude’s Research Hospital and the “Make a Wish Foundation”. Over $9,000 was raised which will benefit Pennsylvania children.

As with all other State conventions, the business of the Association was conducted at the annual meeting and banquet on Tuesday December 8th, conducted by PCOA

Jim Breneman hands over the President's gavel to Mark Wineman

Trip to New York sponsored by Evergreen Insurance.

President Jim Brenneman.New officers were elected including Mark Wineman, Kalyumet Campground who will be the PCOA’s new president for the next 2 years.

The PA Auction once again revealed the generosity of the vendors and campground owners and a total of $16,500 was raised to support scholarships for the National School of RV Parks and Campground Management.

The PCOA expressed its gratitude to the Convention sponsors: Gold; Evergreen Insurance and Wilcor International; Silver: Woodalls Directory, Trailer Life Directory and Guest Reviews; Bronze: Anderson’s Brochure Distribution and Sterling: Pelland Advertising.

Once again this year, there were dozens of prize drawings and awards presented too numerous to mention in this brief review, but needless to say a great

deal of fun was had by all.The PCOA is looking forward to its 47th annual convention which will be held December 6-9 2010 in Gettysburg.

Inquiries should be directed to Beverly Gruber, Executive Secretary (610) 767-5026.

The Association wishes all people in the industry Happy Holidays.

Winners of the 2009 Communication Awards with sponsors Skip and Judy Deegans, Anderson's Brochure Distribution Service.

Jennifer Wertz, Keen Lake Campground, tries on Rocky Bleier's Super Bowl rings.

Left to right, Gilbert Brown, Green Bay Packers; Roger and Cathy Druck, Pine Cradle Lake Campground; Rocky Bleier, Pittsburgh Steelers; and Santana Dotson, Green Bay Packers.

OTTAWA, Dec. 10 /CNW Telbec/ - As Vancouver prepares to welcome the world for the 2010 Olympics and boasts sold out hotel rooms and exorbitant lodging rates, Go RVing Canada reports that RV rentals and campgrounds are still an available and much more affordable option for visitors.

"Do not abandon hopes of going to the 2010 Olympics if you do not yet have accommodations planned," says Go RVing Canada spokesperson Catherine Fortin LeFaivre.

"Many Vancouver-area RV dealerships still have RV units available for rent at very reasonable prices during the Olympic period -but they are booking fast."

Most Vancouver-area hotels have been sold out for months in anticipation of the Winter Olympic Games, and those still available are advertising rates in the range of $600 and over per night for double occupancy. In contrast, winterized RV units are available for approximately $200 to $300 per night and can generally accommodate four to six people.

"RVing during the Olympics is a great and affordable way to experience the Games," says Fortin LeFaivre. "Not only will you be able to experience the beautiful B.C. winter outdoors, but you will also be at the heart of the Olympic buzz as many campgrounds are in proximity to Olympic venues."

Although campgrounds in and around the Vancouver-area are booking quickly, spots are still available for approximately $40-75 a night, depending on

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proximity to Olympic venues. Many of these campgrounds offer convenient shuttles to such popular destinations as downtown Vancouver and Skytrain stations. In addition to saving money on accommodations, RVing will also save Olympic-goers on food costs, since RV units are equipped for food preparation and spare tourists the expense of eating out three times a day.

Go RVing Canada recently released the results of a

study, conducted by PKF Consulting, which found that typical RV vacations are up to 75 per cent less expensive per day than any other type of family trip, regardless of trip duration, distance, or location. For more information on RVing, and on where to rent an RV and book a campground during the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games, please visit www.gorving.ca.

The Go RVing coalition was formed in 1997, and consists of RV manufacturers, RV dealers and campground operators. The coalition serves as the Canadian RV camping industry ambassador to provide the public and media with information about the benefits of RV travel. The coalition also seeks to enhance consumer information and satisfaction with the RV experience.

Issue 77 sees us at the end of 2010 and our last issue for 2009.

The Campground & RV Park E News has become an integral part of the campground industry over the last twelve months and I wish to take this opportunity to thank our readers for the positive responses and to those that have sent constructive comments.

We strive each week to bring variety with informative issues on items that really affect owners. Nuts and bolts articles that help in the running of a campground.

Of course, news is what it is all about and each week we bring articles sourced from media outlets nationwide.

Thanks also to our great contributing writers, we look forward to the articles we receive each week.

A big thanks to our advertisers, without our sponsors the e news could not function.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Dennis Macready

JACKSON CENTER, Ohio -- Airstream, a leading recreational vehicle manufacturer in North America, has announced that it has increased its production by 25 percent since October in order to meet growing market demand. Furthermore, the company is scheduled to expand production by another 25 percent in January.

In addition to doubling its net output in five months, Airstream’s production backlog has also more than tripled since last year. As a result, Airstream will expand its production workforce by 35 percent to support the boost in production and demand.

Despite the adverse economic climate in the RV industry over the last 18 months, Airstream’s recent

performance may well indicate a turnaround for the industry as a whole. Historically, the RV industry has also served as an indicator for the general health of the overall economy.

“Like any other industry, ours took a significant hit over the last couple of years,” said Bob Wheeler, CEO of Airstream. “As difficult as it was to streamline our operations during this period, we now feel optimistic that Airstream is back on the road to recovery.”

Wheeler also noted that dealer confidence for the upcoming selling season appears to be strong and that lenders seem more willing to provide commercial credit to the industry as a whole.

The second annual gathering for CAMP-College will be April 26, 2010.

CAMP-College is a special full day of education put on by Evergreen for members of Campground Association Management Professionals (CAMP).

CAMP was formed in 1991 when several state campground & RV park association executives got together and formalized their meetings held in conjunction with the annual ARVC convention. They learned that sharing information about issues

within their state and programs offered within other states helped each of them run a better

association for their RV park and campground members. CAMP now meets twice a year during ARVC’s annual fall convention and in the spring near Washington, DC during ARVC’s National Issues Conference. Additionally, CAMP conducts an annual survey of what type of programs and member benefits state executives offer their members.

CAMP-College is sponsored by Evergreen and is a special day that provides intensive education to the leaders of the camping industry. Association executive directors, staff, and presidents benefit from attendance at this day of learning.

This year Evergreen will once again be featuring Bob Harris, CAE as a speaker.

Bob has 20 years experience with associations.

His seminars are interactive, focused on core-knowledge and member needs. He utilizes case studies, trends and headlines board orientation, training, strategic planning, staff training and consulting.

He is the author of Association Management 101 Online©; creator of the Association Self-Auditing Process© and co-author of “Building an Association Management Company.”

Bob Green

What do you do when demand for your product exceeds supply and banks won’t lend you money to expand?

That’s a question facing the operators of popular RV parks and campgrounds who are losing millions of dollars in revenue because they can’t find lenders willing to fund their expansions

BORREGO SPRINGS, Calif., Dec. 14, 2009 – As winter approaches, campsites quickly fill up at The Springs at Borrego RV Resort and Golf Course in eastern San Diego County.

The 90-site low desert resort, located minutes from the scenic grandeur of Anza Borrego State Park, is a popular winter nesting ground for snowbirds from all over the Pacific Northwest and Canada.

“We would love to build another 110 sites and think we could do so for about $1.2 million,” said Dan Wright, the park’s general manager.

Trouble is, Wright can’t get a loan. “Everyone we have talked to tells us that financing for RV park construction and development is non-existent at this time,” said Wright, who also serves as president of the California Association of

RV Parks and Campgrounds.

The problem isn’t limited to RV parks and resorts. Despite the billions of dollars in bailout funds that the Bush and Obama administrations have provided to the banking industry during the past year to make credit more available, bank financing remains difficult for any small business to obtain.

Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke acknowledged the problem last month in a widely quoted speech to the Economic Club of New York, in which he stated that banks’ continuing reluctance to lend is “limiting the ability of some businesses to expand and hire,” effectively delaying the nation’s economic recovery.

From Wright’s perspective, the banks’ unwillingness to lend to profitable businesses is costing millions in lost revenue, not only for his business, but for the community of Borrego Springs, whose restaurants, stores and fuel stations depend to varying degrees on the snowbirds who spend the winter at his RV resort.

“We track every reservation request that we cannot fill,” Wright said, adding, “Since the beginning of 2008, we

have turned away over 8,000 nights’ worth of business due to a shortage of campsites. But even with numbers like these, lenders still can’t bring themselves to provide us with a loan. It makes no sense.”

Ken Jeffries, one of the owners of Angels Camp RV & Camping Resort in Angels Camp, in the Sierra Nevada foothills, is facing a similar scenario. The park, with 63 RV sites, 14 tent sites, five cabins and a camp office

and store, is in desperate need of expansion to accommodate growing numbers of camping enthusiasts. In fact, between Jan. 1st and July 29th of this year, the park had to decline 513 nightly reservations for lack of space, Jeffries said. But despite the obviously strong demand for campsites at the park, the owners have not been able to obtain even a relatively small loan.

“We need $50,000 to put in 19 more campsites, but the banks are real tight for some reason,” Jeffries said. “The interest rates are down, but they won’t loan any money. Of course, it doesn’t do any good to have low interest rates if they won’t loan the money. I feel the small business man is being squeezed terribly.”

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Continued from previous pageFrustrated with the lack of credit, Jeffries and his partners are paying for his park’s expansion on their own. “We’re taking the money out of our own pocket and are doing the expansion ourselves,” he said. “It’s very difficult to do this, but we have no choice. We’re losing business by not expanding our park.”

Harriette Groth, co-owner of SunBasin RV Park in Ephrata, Wash., said she also is losing business because she has not been able to obtain the $350,000 to $450,000 in loans she needs to make needed improvements to her park. She’d like to put in more campsites, create more pull-through sites, and build a new bathhouse and showerhouse, but can’t find lenders willing to refinance her existing loan and provide her with capital for improvements, let alone provide her with a second loan for improvements. As a result, her improvements are limited to relatively minor cosmetic improvements, such as new signage and landscaping.

John Grant, owner of Park Brokerage Inc., a San Diego company that specializes in RV park sales, said the scarcity of loans is hard for RV park and campground operators to swallow, particularly given the resiliency of the camping business during the recession. “All businesses need access to capital to expand, to improve their facilities. But

there’s just no commercial real estate capital available for RV parks and campgrounds,” he said.

Ed Mayer, who has developed four successful RV resorts in Florida in the past six years using the Elite Resorts of America brand name, said he is now seeking financing from private investment groups after failing to obtain loans from conventional lenders. “Everybody is scrambling to find money,” he said. “I’ve dealt with small banks, medium banks and large banks and I’m getting the same answer across the spectrum.”

Mayer said many lenders simply have no experience working with the RV industry and don’t want to take any chances investing in a market segment with which they have little or no experience, despite the financial successes RV parks and resorts have enjoyed throughout the recession. He conceded, however, that while there are many successful, high quality RV parks and resorts across the country that are worthy of loans, there also continue to be sizeable numbers of neglected parks. “Some RV parks are in the hands of people trying to get out of the industry and they’ve allowed their parks to deteriorate,” he said.

Now that we’ve returned from the PCOA show, we get a respite from trade shows until March, when we’ll attend both the Ohio show and the Northeast Association shows. Until then, we’ll be calling campground owners who are still at their campgrounds and trying to offer our services. During this time, we’ll also be expanding our offices by purchasing a yurt and adding sales personnel.

We look forward to this expansion and to the opportunity to talk to campground owners from all over the USA.

But is the feeling reciprocated? As the title of this article suggests, most people do NOT like telemarketers – and not without reason. They always seem to call at the most inopportune moments and 9 times out of 10 what they are offering is of no interest to the person being called. Frankly, they tend to be a

pain in the a__. It must be odd, therefore to hear this from someone whose business relies on telemarketing.

In another life, I worked selling commodity options for a brokerage house. There were 8 of us in a small room at desks lined up against a wall with soundproof dividers between us. It was a not-so-shining example of a “boiler room” operation. The object was to speak to as many people in a day, as possible. The thinking, I guess, was that the more people you spoke to the greater the success ratio. We were given a list of people to call. They were yacht-owners!I hated it, and didn’t stay for long at the job. It was meant to be impersonal and cold, but I couldn’t conduct myself that way. My conversations went on for many minutes and I learned a lot about the people I was calling. I believed in what I was

doing and what I was selling but I couldn’t bring myself to be short and direct about it. I left after a few months.

When I started marketing credit card services, I virtually did it door-to-door (or store-to-store). I liked it and like the personal touch and meeting people. But when the opportunity presented itself to market to RV parks and campgrounds, I realized that visiting parks all over the country was not possible. Telemarketing was the only answer.

Fortunately, we found out very quickly that WHO you call may actually be a rewarding experience. Campground owners are in the hospitality industry and, if given time away from their campers needs, and presented with the right opportunity, they will listen to what you have to say. What more can a marketing person ask for?

We also learned, over the past 6 years, that contact with our customers and potential customers is a necessity. This is why we still participate in 9 campground shows a year and are members of over 15 of them. But when the shows are not in sessions, our roots to making our offers of service do revert to telemarketing – and we appreciate every moment that campground owners

give us to inform them about our service.

In addition, the free webinars we run are, in a sense, part of our telemarketing since the live interactive audio portion of the webinar does give us the opportunity to speak to campground owners, although it might only consist of answering their questions.

This is our last article for 2009 as the e-News goes on hiatus. We’d like to take this opportunity to wish all of our readers the very happiest and healthiest of holiday seasons.

Art Lieberman is President of MCPS for Campgrounds, a credit card processor sponsored by Woodforest Bank NA. Art has been in the Credit Card industry for nearly 12 years. Art has been conducting webinars online and seminars on credit cards in many State and Regional Association Conventions. He can be contacted at art@mcpsforcampgrounds.com

Unknown to most in our Industry, Gary Wakerley of Jumping Pillows USA has been developing specialty product that will enhance the recreation activity for the disabled.

He travels to Denmark in January to speak at a special conference on the subject.

‘Already, the Jumping Pillow is one of the very few playground activities suitable to a broad cross section of disabled people, but there are kids out there with more chronic disabilities who are thinking that they’ll

never be able to participate in the fun’ Mr. Wakerley said.

‘There is so much that able bodied kids and teenagers (with their frivolous problems) can learn from kids with disabilities, they can be inspired by the positive attitudes and enormous courage of disabled kids

just like I was a long time ago.We simply need to get them together and what better place than the playground’ he commented.

‘The conference in Denmark is more of a ‘Think Tank’ and an opportunity to share ideas and concepts with others who are working in the same area. I’m excited at the prospect of gaining knowledge which may help me across some of the final hurdles in the development of our own product, and at the same time I may have something to offer others’ he said.

Mr. Wakerley will speak about his successful development of the Indoor Jumping Pillow and the developmental progress of his ‘Yes You Can – Jumping Pillow’.

The conference will be attended by folk from Australia, England, Europe and the USA.

The Jumping Pillow Company of the USA donates Jumping Pillows to various entities that specifically cater to caring for disabled kids.

Gary Wakerley

Developers learn a lesson from the school of hard knocks:

High quality RV parks can be more economically resilient than hotels, condos and shopping malls.

The recession has prevented many developers from converting RV parks and resorts into other seemingly more lucrative uses, such as hotels, shopping malls and condos. Meanwhile, several Sunbelt RV parks slated for demolition have not only survived, but thrived during the recession

LARKSPUR, Colo., Dec. 14, 2009 – Between 2000 and 2005, as real estate prices rocketed to unprecedented levels, developers pulled out their wallets and encouraged owners of RV parks and resorts to sell their properties because they wanted to replace them with shopping malls – all more lucrative uses of these properties, or so they thought.

As the real estate market has tumbled, however, many developers have not been unable to get very far with their plans, and several of the RV parks and resorts they acquired have not only survived, but prospered during the current economic recession.

In fact, one lesson that developers have learned is that high quality RV

parks and resorts are more economically resilient than hotels, shopping malls or condos, particularly when investments are made to improve these parks.

“Camping is a recession-proof business,” said David L. Berg, chairman of the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds, adding that most of the nation’s campgrounds, RV parks and RV resorts have reported stable to slight increases in income this year, despite the recession.

Berg cited his own campground as a case in point. The park, Red Apple Campground in Kennebunkport, Me., scored an 8.5 percent increase in business compared to last year, while hotels and motels in his area saw their business drop by as much as 25 percent. “Camping is more family oriented and more reasonably priced than other travel and tourism options,” he said, adding, “The state of affairs of our economy has not hurt the camping business at all.”

Developers, on the other hand, have mistakenly assumed that land is always more valuable when it’s used for hotels, shopping malls and condominiums. While this kind of thinking may apply to poorly maintained RV

parks, in resort destinations, high quality RV parks and resorts remain economically resilient, even when times are tough.

Consider the story of Emerald Desert RV Resort in Palm Desert, Calif., one of the top winter vacation destinations in the country. Several years ago, Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Taylor Morrison bought the park with plans to replace it with high-end housing. But the recession pulled the rug out from under the real estate market before Taylor Morrison could finish its project. And while Taylor Morrison had converted portions of the RV resort to housing, the rest of the resort remained standing, including all of its RV sites, clubhouse and other core buildings, which prompted the company to put the RV resort back on the market.

La Jolla, Calif. based SunLand RV Resorts bought Emerald Desert last summer and plans to keep as a resort. “I’ve had my eye on this property for 20 years,” said Reza Paydar, SunLand’s president and CEO. “It is very valuable. There is nothing like it.”

SunLand, in fact, has already invested more than $1 million in improvements to the 251-site property and plans to operate it as a year-round luxury RV resort. It’s newly designed 1,200-square foot lobby features a custom

designed floor mosaic and reception desk with inlayed stone. Luxury furnishings are also being added to the newly designed fitness center and swimming pool area.

Meanwhile, the economic downturn has given La Pacifica RV Resort in the San Diego, Calif. suburb of San Ysidro a chance to assert its economic resiliency. An investor purchased the property several years ago with the idea of re-selling it to a housing developer. But as the real estate market tanked, the investor’s plans evaporated and he wound up selling the property to another investor, Bart Thomsen, who plans to make improvements and keep La Pacifica as an RV resort.

“The park is in very good condition already. But we’re absolutely intent on making it an even better place,” Thomsen said. “We’re putting money into fixing up the bathhouse and clubhouse and investing in better utility pedestals and making improvements to its streets. We’re planning on it being an RV park for the long haul.”

Developers’ plans to convert RV parks and resorts to other uses have not only been put on hold by the recession. In some cases, local residents and businesses and city

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officials have discouraged them from replacing RV parks and resorts, which they value as important pillars of a tourism economy.

Consider Holiday Cove RV Resort in Cortez, Fla. A few years ago, the property was purchased by an owner who wanted to

replace it with condominiums, but the developer ran into opposition from local residents, businesses and city officials.

“They claimed the plan was out of character for the community and they were concerned that residential use wouldn’t support the local businesses that are geared primarily to the tourist and vacation business,” said David Gorin, who recently purchased the park from the developer.

“The previous owner was simply unable to get the zoning and planning commission to approve his plan. He fought with

them for five years and then gave up and sold the property to us.”Gorin and his business partner have since invested $1.4 million improving the property and making it into a high quality RV resort.

These investments in RV parks and in RV park improvements are paying off because camping and RVing enthusiasts have shown a consistent willingness to pay for parks that offer high quality facilities, amenities and service, said Linda Profaizer, president and CEO of the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds. RV parks and resorts are also aided by the fact that they

offer the nation’s most affordable vacation option, she said.John Grant, owner of San Diego-based Park Brokerage Inc., said growing consumer interest in camping and RVing is also helping RV parks and resorts to retain their real estate and business value during the worst recession since the Great Depression.

“RV parks are holding on to their value because people are downsizing their vacations, taking their RV or tent and going camping,” he said, adding, “This translates into higher property and business values for parks.”

David Gorin

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CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 14 /PRNewswire/ — Bank of America has announced that it has pledged to increase lending to small- and medium-sized businesses by at least $5 billion in 2010 over 2009’s results.

The pledge was made to President Obama by Bank of America Chief Executive Officer Kenneth D. Lewis at a meeting of key bankers at the White House on Monday.

Through the first three quarters of this year, the company extended more than $12 billion in credit to small businesses (companies with revenue up to $20 million) and also helped 49,000 small business clients improve their cash flows through loan modifications. In addition, Bank of America

originated more than $215 billion in commercial non-real estate loans to medium-sized companies during that period.

“Bank of America is determined to do our part to help the economy grow next year and reduce unemployment by making every good loan we can make,” Lewis said.

“We agree with the President that small and medium sized businesses are the lifeblood of the U.S. economy. Their ability to prosper and grow is key to job creation to help our nation recover from the economic slowdown,” Lewis said. “Our improved financial condition and our optimism about the economy will allow us to step up lending to support these clients. This is only one of the initiatives we are pushing, but it is a very important one.”

This week's featured Listing

Speed: Up to 16 mphRange: Up to 25 MilesMotor: 350 watt brushless motorDriving Sytem: Powerful 48 volt front hub drive System built into the front wheel!Charging Time: 4-6 hours for penniesBattery: 48 volt 14 AH sealed lead battery acid

The latest product to hit the campground industry is receiving major interest by owners who see these bikes as an opportunity for good revenue by renting them to campers.

The bikes are not only "green" environmentally

friendly but are safe and extremely economical with a battery charge range of up to 25 miles.

Campgrounds can purchase the bikes outright for as low as $1195 ensuring an excellent and fast return on investment.

Battery Charger: 110 volt smart charger, UL ListedTires: Front 16 x 2.5" and rear pneumatic 10 x 3.5"Color: White and Black (Custom Paint Jobs Also)Size: 40" L x 26.8 "Wx 5.7" HWeight: 93 lbs.Comes With: headlight, taillight, and horn. (Basket Optional)