The Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (RERC) program is accepting applications now through October 16. The program provides planning assistance to small towns and rural communities to help them boost their outdoor recreation economy and revitalize their main streets. The program is a partnership between EPA's Office of Community Revitalization, the USDA Forest Service, the Northern Border Regional Commission, the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Denali Commission.

Selected communities will work alongside federal agency partners and consultants to participate in a planning process that helps identify the community's vision, goals and actions they wish to take to boost outdoor recreation, revitalize their main streets and promote equitable access to the outdoors for residents and visitors alike.

Past RERC projects have included:

• Improving access to trails and nearby natural attractions.
• Promoting outdoor-oriented businesses.
• Expanding lodging and other services for visitors.
• Supporting economic growth and amenities in downtowns.
• Ensuring that residents and visitors from all backgrounds can access and benefit from outdoor recreation opportunities.

Eligibility and Special Considerations

Eligible applicants include local governments, Tribes, nonprofit organizations and institutions representing any community in the United States. Local colleges, universities and extension agencies can also serve as the lead organization for the 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)