Upcoming webinar: Leveraging Outdoor Recreation to Revitalize Rural Economies

 

Outdoor recreation is a growing contributor to the economy in many communities and also provides an opportunity for residents and visitors alike to improve their wellness and connection to natural resources and the environment. But did you know that recreation can also be a driver for main street revitalization? This webinar will share stories from the new EPA Recreation Economy for Rural Communities planning assistance program, a federal partnership between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Forest Service to support rural communities that are leveraging the power of outdoor recreation to revitalize their main streets and diversify their economies. Through the first round of this program, ten small towns across the country are bringing together community leaders, outdoor recreation businesses, residents, and other partners to plan for the future of outdoor recreation in their community’s story. These communities are building new trail systems and connecting them to downtown, engaging diverse groups of community residents who have not been traditionally engaged in community planning, and tackling how to conserve the resources that make their community special.

 

In this webinar, we will hear from EPA about the Recreation Economy for Rural Communities program and from a representative of one of the partner communities – Jasper, Alabama – about how this community is leveraging outdoor recreation and supporting downtown revitalization. We will also hear from the USDA Forest Service about how it is working in California to collaboratively envision, create, and maintain the trail system by engaging communities to implement community trail priorities. Together communities, land managers, agencies, and counties are creating a vision to preserve and celebrate the character of communities, contribute to land stewardship of public lands, and create new opportunities for prosperity. Come ready to be inspired with ideas you can take home to your community!