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A federal program is giving about $30,000 to individual rural communities to help them develop outdoor recreation economies and revitalize highways.
The program, aptly named Recreation Economy for Rural Communities, is overseen by the EPA, Forest Service and others. This year, it’s serving 25 communities, including two in Mountain West: Monte Vista, Colorado, and Butte, Mont.
In 2019, the program’s first year, it also helped Glenwood Springs, Colorado, Grants, NM, and Johnson Falls, Mont.
Program goals include assisting with marketing, expanding the trail network, strengthening inner-city amenities, and improving public access to outdoor spaces.
This support can help diversify rural economies and support local residents, according to Chris Perkins, senior director of the Industry Coalition’s Outdoor Recreation Roundtable.
“It helps increase rural prosperity, it improves public health outcomes, and it promotes environmental responsibility and conservation ethics,” Perkins said.
He said this is especially true post-pandemic, when people have flocked to the outdoors for their mental health and to safely socialize. Some now see this type of recreation as a necessity and want to move to places where they can be reached.
“We have a huge chance here. How can we capitalize on the enthusiasm for more outdoor opportunities and the benefits that come from it, while making the communities that provide those opportunities thrive long-term?” he asked.
The ORR also provided additional funding to half of the original 10 communities that participated in this program in 2019 and has since created a toolkit to help others strengthen their outdoor economy.
While a little help goes a long way in small towns, the thirst for financial help far exceeds the funds available. Nearly 300 communities applied for the federal program, Perkins said, and only 35 were selected overall.
There is a bill in Congress that could allocate more resources to the Recreation Economy for Rural Communities program. The Rural Outdoor Investment Act, sponsored by Colorado Senator Michael Bennet, a Democrat, has earmarked $12.5 million for this program alone.
This story was produced by Mountain West News Bureau, a collaboration between Wyoming Public Media, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, KUNR in Nevada, the O’Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West in Montana, KUNC in Colorado, KUNM in New Mexico, with the support of partner stations throughout the region. The Mountain West News Bureau is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Copyright 2022 Boise State Public Radio News. To see more, visit Boise State Public Radio News.
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