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.

2025 Partner Communities
Twenty-five communities were selected as partners for Recreation Economy for Rural Communities planning assistance in 2025, eight of which were located within NBRC’s service area:

Dover-Foxcroft, Maine:The Town of Dover-Foxcroft, ME and partners want to tap into the growing outdoor recreation economy to boost employment opportunities for residents, revitalize their main street, and make Dover-Foxcroft a destination for visitors. Through their RERC project, they hope to improve pedestrian and bike amenities; enhance access to the river and other nearby outdoor recreation opportunities for residents and visitors; connect small businesses with opportunities to develop around the outdoor recreation economy; and support workforce development and improve health outcomes for residents. This project will consider concerns around flooding, wildfire, and decreasing snowfall, all of which affect the recreation economy, and will build upon previous investments in brownfield site assessment, clean up, and redevelopment.
Jay, Livermore, and Livermore Falls, Maine: The three communities – along with the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments and community partners – are promoting the region as a hub for outdoor recreation and agritourism, and engaging community members to lead the shift towards an outdoor recreation economy after a period of economic decline. This project will also incorporate navigating solutions to concerns about impacts from historical mill activities, flooding, wildfire, and a decrease in snowfall.
Newport, New Hampshire:The Town of Newport, NH and partners want to connect Newport’s main street with nearby outdoor recreation assets, including a rail trail, and market and brand downtown as a destination for visitors. Through their RERC project, they hope to boost economic opportunity for residents; revitalize main street and improve walkability, wayfinding, and public spaces; and connect to broader regional trail systems and other efforts around outdoor recreation. This project will take into consideration flooding concerns and the conservation of sensitive ecosystems.
Johnson, Vermont: The Town of Johnson, VT and partners want to capitalize on their location adjacent to the longest rail trail in New England and to increase flood resilience and recovery following historic floods in 2023. Through their RERC project, they hope to connect the rail trail to the village center; ensure that residents have access to affordable housing, jobs, and outdoor recreation amenities; and promote economic development opportunities for local businesses on main street, all while enhancing community resilience. This project will address recovery from the 2023 flood and will help the community plan for long term economic recovery and resilience.
Newport, Vermont: Newport Downtown Development and partners want to develop a cohesive strategy for a four-seasons recreation economy in Newport that serves both residents’ and visitors’ needs. Through their RERC project, they hope to develop downtown amenities and outdoor recreation offerings to attract visitors; ensure affordable housing, jobs, and access to outdoor recreation for residents; and foster downtown redevelopment to make it an attractive economic and commercial hub for residents and visitors. This project will take into consideration water quality concerns, particularly around lake pollution; frequent flooding; and decreasing snowfall, all of which impact the recreation economy.
Fulton, New York: The City of Fulton, NY and partners want to tie together recreational assets in downtown Fulton and the surrounding area while enhancing quality of life and economic opportunity for residents. Through their RERC project, they hope to revitalize main street; engage community members, including young people and seniors, in planning for Fulton’s future; and make Fulton a vibrant destination that offers recreational, cultural, and educational activities that will bring visitors and residents to Fulton and its businesses. This project will take into consideration brownfield site assessment, clean up, and redevelopment and water quality concerns with lakes and rivers.
Hamilton County, New York: Hamilton County, NY and partners want to create a shared vision for outdoor recreation for communities in the county as they seek to tap into the growing outdoor recreation economy. Through their RERC project, they hope to connect communities throughout the county through trails; revitalize main streets and expand amenities and offerings for residents and visitors; leverage greater economic activity for local businesses; and plan ahead for future community needs around housing, infrastructure, and lodging for visitors. This project will take into consideration issues around the overuse of outdoor recreation assets and decreasing snowfall, which impact the recreation economy, and will plan for sustainability and stewardship in managing natural resources.
Jay, New York: The Town of Jay, NY and partners want to revitalize main street and leverage the growing outdoor recreation economy while planning ahead for workforce housing, transportation, and the stewardship and restoration of natural assets. Through their RERC project, they hope to provide jobs, housing, shops, and amenities for residents and visitors; implement promotion, branding, wayfinding to draw visitors to the area; manage and build new trails and a recently-acquired Forest Preserve for the benefit of the community; and ensure that outdoor amenities are accessible by all, including young people and seniors. This project will take into consideration issues such as flooding, water quality, and habitat restoration.

For a full list of the 2025 RERC partner communities, visit the RERC website, here.

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.