Has your rural community / locality struggled to support economic growth and diversification, as well as offer opportunities for people to connect with the natural world? Sponsored by the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC), USDA Forest Service and EPA, the Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (RERC) planning assistance program helps communities identify strategies to grow their outdoor recreation economy and revitalize their Main Streets.

The next round of RERC assistance has opened, and the deadline to apply is November 22, 2021.

In 2019, ten communities across America were selected as partners for the inaugural round of RERC planning assistance. Excitingly, Giles County, VA was selected to participate in the pilot year of the RERC program, and working sessions were designed to bring community members and regional partners together to generate a community-driven action plan to support asset-based economic development, conservation and stewardship of the region’s natural, cultural and historical assets. To learn more about Giles County’s involvement, check out the video below, which highlights a site visit the RERC planning assistance team took to kick off the RERC project in the community!