Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (RERC)

The EPA is accepting applications for the next round of the Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (RERC) program. This program offers planning assistance to help communities identify strategies that grow their outdoor recreation economy and revitalize their main streets. The program has provided assistance to 35 communities across the country so far, including Marshfield and Poultney in Vermont.   Info webinar 9/5.

Outdoor activities are increasingly popular across the United States, and many communities are seeking to grow their outdoor recreation and tourism economy, while investing in their Main Streets and conserving forests and other natural lands. Encouraging growth on Main Streets and in existing neighborhoods while promoting outdoor recreation can help foster community revitalization, protect air and water quality, create jobs, support economic growth and diversification and offer new opportunities for people to connect with the natural world.

With Recreation Economy for Rural Communities assistance, a planning team will help communities bring together local residents and other stakeholders to decide on strategies and an action plan to grow the local outdoor recreation economy. The planning assistance process will take place over 8 to 12 months, with a focal point being a facilitated community workshop. At the workshop, participants will work together to identify a vision, goals, and specific actions to realize the locally set goals.

Partner communities are encouraged to pursue activities that foster environmentally friendly community development and Main Street revitalization through the conservation and sustainable use of public or private forests or other natural resources. Examples could include:

• Ensuring local residents, including young people, have connections and opportunities related to nearby outdoor assets to foster community pride, good stewardship, and local economic benefits.
• Creating or expanding trail networks to attract overnight visitors and new businesses and foster use by local residents.
• Developing in-town amenities, such as broadband service; electric vehicle charging; housing; or shops, restaurants, or breweries, to serve residents and attract new visitors and residents with an interest in nearby outdoor assets.
• Marketing local downtowns and Main Streets as gateways to nearby natural lands to capture and amplify outdoor recreation dollars.
• Developing a community consensus on the management of outdoor assets to reduce potential conflicts and ensure sustainable use of resources.
• Engaging in stewardship of outdoor recreation assets and mitigating and adapting to climate change and other environmental challenges.
• Ensuring that all residents and visitors, particularly those who have not historically been engaged in outdoor recreation and Main Street revitalization efforts, have equitable access to and can benefit from the growing outdoor recreation economy.