Eligible applicants are local governments, Tribes, nonprofit organizations or institutions representing any community in the United States. Local colleges, universities and extension agencies can also serve as the lead organization for the assistance; however, in the application, it will be important to show how you'll be able to bring together community stakeholders, including residents, to a public workshop.
Communities of any size are eligible. Applicants must be located in, and project activities must be focused within, the United States, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands or American Samoa.
Regional organizations, including councils of governments, are eligible to apply. In cases where an application covers a larger region, the application should identify a strong local partner and should explain the place-based focus of the project (how it will benefit a neighborhood, Main Street/downtown, community). Multi-county or state-level projects are not eligible for this assistance.
Applicants must be located in, and project activities must be focused within, the United States, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands or American Samoa.
Special consideration will be given to the following:
Small towns and rural communities
Economically disadvantaged communities
Tribal and Alaskan Native Village communities
Communities located in the Northern Border region of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York (visit the Northern Border Regional Commission's website for a list of counties in this region)
Communities located in the Appalachian region (visit the Appalachian Commission's website for a list of communities in this region)
Communities located in the Denali region representing rural Alaska (visit the Denali Commission's website for a list of communities in this region)
Background
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.
The application includes the following questions:
What is the geographic scope that you would like to focus on for your RERC project (e.g., neighborhood, town, county, region)?
What is the area's demographic makeup (race, ethnicity, socioeconomic, age, etc.)?
What environmental challenges is your community facing? These issues could include mitigating and adapting to climate change; addressing invasive species, wildfire, flooding, and other disasters; land conservation and stewardship of natural resources and outdoor recreation assets; addressing challenges resulting from a transition from resource extraction to non-extractive uses; and others. How will this assistance help address the environmental challenges that you’ve identified?
What outdoor recreation assets and natural resources does your community have that you would like to build upon?
What challenges does your community face around economic development and creating access to economic opportunity for all?
What challenges does your community face in terms of Main Street and downtown revitalization? If your community doesn’t have a traditional “Main Street,” please share any relevant placemaking themes and challenges.
What plans and programs does your community envision and/or have underway to support outdoor recreation and Main Street revitalization (e.g., local comprehensive plan, regional economic development plan, state comprehensive outdoor recreation plan, etc.)? How will this assistance support or advance the development or implementation of those plans?
What strategies and opportunities to build on the outdoor recreation economy and strengthen Main Street revitalization would you like to explore? How would you like to build upon your natural assets with a focus on economic development?
How would a community workshop through the Recreation Economy for Rural Communities program help you achieve your outdoor recreation and Main Street revitalization goals?
How will your community engage with, encourage participation from, and/or increase access to outdoor recreation for underserved community members, including people of color, people with disabilities, people who are experiencing economic distress, and others who have been underserved or otherwise left out of previous planning efforts? How would a RERC workshop assist in engaging these community members in conversations about outdoor recreation and Main Street revitalization?
As part of the RERC program, each selected community is asked to form a diverse steering committee to guide the project and participate in planning meetings in advance of the workshop. Having a steering committee that represents all segments of the local community leads to more meaningful participation among residents, community organizations, and other stakeholders. Local steering committees often include representatives from local, regional, and/or state government; community organizations that represent various interests within the community; businesses; residents; and others. Please identify who could participate in your local steering committee (name and organization they represent) in the space below.
Applicants must identify a point of contact from the lead organization who will be available for the duration of the project to lead coordination of local participation and to work with the planning assistance team.
Letters of support are not required. However, some applicants might wish to strengthen their applications by having partner organizations or local elected officials pledge to support the process and implementation of the resulting action plan. All letters of support should be uploaded as a single combined PDF file on the application page.
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on October 16, 2024.
If you have questions about Recreation Economy for Rural Communities planning assistance or the application process, please read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Recreation Economy for Rural Communities.
If your question is not answered there, please email receconomy@epa.gov.
Unclear if this opportunity includes a financial award.