The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Northern Border Regional Commission announced assistance for 25 small and rural communities from across the country to identify strategies to grow their outdoor recreation economies and revitalize Main Streets through the Recreation Economy for Rural Communities program. Three communities in New England were among those selected: Bangor, Maine, Claremont, New Hampshire, and Marshfield, Vermont.
“Environmentally friendly community development and revitalization through the conservation and sustainable use of our public and private forests and other natural resources, creates vibrant, healthy communities for today and tomorrow,” said EPA New England Region Administrator David W. Cash. “The $689 billion outdoor recreation economy benefits greatly from federal partnership programs like this, and the three New England towns participating this year will add new jobs and recreational amenities for residents and visitors alike.”
A federal planning team will work with each community over the course of four to six months, with a two-day facilitated community workshop as the focal point. Participants will work together to develop strategies and an action plan to grow their local outdoor recreation economies. Some workshops are currently underway. Communities were chosen following a comprehensive interagency review process from a pool of more than 100 applicants.
Current Issue - April 2024