Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (RERC) Program

Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (RERC) Program
The Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (RERC) Initiative (EPA website), managed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Community Revitalization is a planning assistance program which helps communities identify strategies to grow their outdoor recreation economy and revitalize their Main Streets.

The EPA’s RERC program is sponsored by the USDA Forest Service, the Northern Border Regional Commission, the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Denali Commission.

Applying for Assistance:
Please note - NBRC State Program Managers are not the primary support for applicants to the RERC program. The Recreation Economy for Rural Communities Program is managed by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA is now accepting applications for the next round of RERC planning assistance. The deadline to apply is 11:59 pm Eastern on October 16, 2024. To learn more and begin an application, please visit: Recreation Economy for Rural Communities 2024 Application 

2022 Partner Communities
Twenty-five communities were selected as partners for Recreation Economy for Rural Communities planning assistance in 2022, five of which were located within NBRC’s service area:

  • Akwesasne, New York: The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe and partners are bringing the Tribal community together to build on the Tribe's cultural tourism, economic development, and infrastructure strategies. Some of those developments include a new heritage center, an art gallery, and the creation of green park spaces along the St. Regis River located in downtown Akwesasne. The RERC process will aid in developing the region’s rich natural and cultural resources to strengthen the local economy and grow opportunities around the outdoor recreation economy and nature-based tourism while improving outdoor amenities.
  • Bangor, Maine: The Greater Bangor Convention & Visitors Bureau and partners would like to market, promote, and connect nearby outdoor recreation assets, including the Penobscot River, to Bangor’s downtown assets; to create opportunities for local business growth; and to attract visitors and residents to the city. The local steering committee plans to develop environmentally friendly green space, additional areas for new water access, and new walking trails to foster sustainable land management, boost water quality, and improve residents’ health.
  • Claremont, New Hampshire: The city of Claremont’s Parks and Recreation and Planning and Development departments and other partners would like to connect the city’s Main Street revitalization efforts with recreation assets nearby, including local parks and forests, the riverfront, and a growing trail network. This project will explore and include many recreation assets, including EPA brownfield remediation and brownfields assessment projects currently underway downtown.
  • Granville, New York: The village of Granville and partners would like to make connections between the multi-state Slate Valley Rail Trail and the Mettawee River with their Main Street and cultural campus, which includes the Slate Valley Museum and the Pember Library and Museum of Natural History. The village would like to clean up and repurpose vacant storefronts on Granville’s Main Street to revitalize their downtown and support the growing recreation economy and would like to enhance walkability and build new bike and kayak rental opportunities to boost residents’ health and to reduce the environmental impact of transportation.
  • Marshfield, Vermont: The town of Marshfield and partners would like to market the town’s recreational opportunities to visitors, expand local business opportunities in the village, reroute portions of the Cross Vermont Trail onto an old railroad bed, and foster outdoor recreation activities in all four seasons. The town would also like to engage residents that are not normally involved in planning discussions so that all may benefit from outdoor recreation opportunities.

For a full list of the 2022 RERC partner communities, visit the RERC website, here.

2019 Partner Communities
Ten communities were selected as partners for Recreation Economy for Rural Communities planning assistance in 2019, four of which were located within NBRC’s service area:

  • Cambridge, New York, made the new Cambridge Community Forest safely accessible to residents and visitors; connected it with other green spaces, recreational and cultural amenities, and businesses; and promoted smart downtown development.
  • Fryeburg, Maine, with partners Southern Maine Planning and Economic Development Commission and Fryeburg Academy, connected nearby outdoor recreation assets to growing opportunities for the Main Street business community.
  • Gorham, New Hampshire, planned new, environmentally friendly uses along the Androscoggin River to better connect downtown Gorham with the river and its assets.
  • Poultney, Vermont, spotlighted its recreation assets, encouraged more residents and visitors to participate in recreation, connected nearby hiking-biking trails to downtown, and worked to attract new recreation-economy investors.

For a full list of the 2019 RERC partner communities, visit the RERC website, here.