Today, after the Biden Administration announced the 25 communities that will receive technical assistance under the Recreation Economy for Rural Communities program, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) lauded the announcement below. ORR supported the formation of this program and provided additional funding for five communities to implement their economic development strategies, helping to unlock millions of dollars in additional grant funding. ORR plans to continue working with the Biden Administration and Congress to build the program so it can serve all communities looking for support to establish and grow a thriving and sustainable outdoor recreation economy. Notably, in the two rounds of the program nearly 300 communities have applied for assistance, indicating widespread demand for outdoor recreation economic development. ORR’s Rural Economic Development Toolkit has also helped communities, like the ones awarded today, develop and grow authentic outdoor recreation plans and execute on those proposals.

“The Recreation Economy for Rural Communities program is exactly what rural America needs to harness the high demand for outdoor recreation and develop sustainable economies that benefit locals and visitors alike,” said Jessica Turner, President, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable. “The $689 billion outdoor recreation economy benefits greatly from continued government investment in programs like these that work on the ground and positively impact people, place and planet.”