PHOTO COURTESY NMMAU.S. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) have introduced the Rural Outdoor Investment Act, which would provide support for rural communities looking to build and plan for recreation economies.
The ROI Act would provide $30 million for public works through the Economic Development Administration that could fund improvements from signage to boat ramps. It also would provide $5 million for grants through EDA for communities to create recreation economy plans, $2.5 million in university partnerships to promote place-based research, education and technical assistance to local stakeholders and businesses, and $12.5 million for the Recreation Economy for Rural Communities grants program.
“The Rural Outdoor Investment Act will deliver much-needed funding for outdoor recreation infrastructure in rural communities at a time when a historic number of Americans are rediscovering their passion for getting outdoors,” National Marine Manufacturers Association president Frank Hugelmeyer said in a statement.
“We have an outstanding opportunity to meet the moment through the Rural Outdoor Investment Act,” said Jessica Wahl Turner, president of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable. “The ROI Act … will help bring rural communities a big return on outdoor recreation investments in the
form of social, economic and environmental benefits for locals and visitors alike.”
Click here for more about the the Rural Outdoor Investment Act.
