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Rural Health Information Hub

Recreation Economy for Rural Communities Planning Assistance

Sponsor
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Deadlines
Oct 16, 2024
Purpose

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is offering planning assistance where an EPA 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 8-12 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, physical activity, 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 physical activity and recreation economy
Eligibility

Eligible applicants:

  • Local governments
  • Tribes
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Local colleges and universities
  • Extension agencies
  • Regional organizations, including councils of governments

Special consideration will be given to:

Geographic coverage
Nationwide and U.S. Territories
Amount of funding

This is a technical assistance opportunity. Most communities incur little to no cost aside from staff and volunteer time devoted to planning and participating in the workshop.

Application process
Tagged as
Broadband · Community and economic development · Community and faith-based initiatives · Community engagement and volunteerism · Needs assessment methods and resources · Networking and collaboration · Physical activity · Planning and strategy methods and resources

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For complete information about funding programs, including your application status, please contact funders directly. Summaries are provided for your convenience only. RHIhub does not take part in application processes or monitor application status.