EPR and a team of consultants were entrusted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Community Revitalization, the USDA Forest Service, the Appalachian Regional Commission, and the Northern Border Regional Commission to develop a toolkit and deliver planning assistance for a program called Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (RERC).  

This planning assistance program is designed based on previous EPA programs such as Local Foods, Local Places, Healthy Places for Healthy People, and others. The RERC program aims to foster environmentally friendly community development and Main Street revitalization through the conservation and sustainable use of public or private forests or other natural resources.  

Though the focus is on the connection between outdoor recreation assets and Main Street vitality, the workshops explore related topics such as walkability, trails, infrastructure, economic development and business incubation, and housing affordability. Improving tourism and branding, outreach and communications, wayfinding, and signage are also common themes. Many rural communities are in the process of transitioning or diversifying their economy and outdoor recreation is a major opportunity sector to explore as they navigate the way forward. 

Ten communities received assistance during the pilot round, and 25 additional communities were included in the second round.  

Our structured planning process spans four to six months and centers on facilitated community workshops where residents and stakeholders collaborate to create actionable plans. Our expertise and adaptable methods have successfully produced tailored action plans for numerous communities, even amid the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The workshops forge connections between outdoor recreation assets, place-based considerations, and community and economic development goals. In the program’s second round, more than $10 million has been leveraged to implement community goals.