The Biden-Harris administration aims to help rural communities grow their outdoor recreation economy.
The Recreation Economy for Rural Communities is a joint program to aid 25 small and rural communities from around the country find strategies to grow their outdoor recreation economies and revitalize Main Streets, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Northern Border Regional Commission, according to an Aug. 17 EPA news release.
"Outdoor recreation activities can bring new investment to local economies, encourage people to revitalize existing downtowns and conserve natural resources and lead to improved quality of life for residents and visitors," EPA Associate Administrator for Policy Vicki Arroyo said in the release. “This assistance will help rural areas explore ways that outdoor recreation can strengthen their communities, create jobs and boost access to the outdoors for everyone."
According to the release, communities are urged to pursue activities fostering environmentally friendly community development by conserving and sustaining the use of forests and other natural resources.
“Efforts to reinvigorate main streets through the Recreation Economy for Rural Communities program is an important step to help communities realize all the benefits that adjacent national forests and grasslands make possible" Forest Service Chief Randy Moore said in the release.
