This summer, the Town of St. Paul reached an exciting milestone in its ongoing downtown revitalization and elevation of natural assets. The community was selected to participate in the Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (RERC) program, a nationally competitive initiative designed to help small towns harness the power of outdoor recreation as a driver of economic opportunity and Main Street revitalization.
The RERC program is a partnership among the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the USDA Forest Service, the Northern Border Regional Commission, and the Appalachian Regional Commission, with support from additional federal and state agencies. Through this program, communities like St. Paul receive expert guidance to identify strategic opportunities, expand recreation-based assets, and connect those efforts directly to downtown development goals.
This accomplishment was spearheaded by St. Paul Tomorrow, the local Main Street organization, which led the grant application process and served on the project’s steering committee. Their leadership ensured that local voices, priorities, and longstanding revitalization efforts were front and center throughout the process.
During a two-day, in-person planning session, community leaders joined more than 15 representatives from state and federal partner agencies for a deep dive into St. Paul’s opportunities and challenges. Together, participants engaged in a facilitated community visioning exercise to understand what matters most to residents, identify assets to build on, and clarify long-term goals for the community’s recreational future.
With a shared vision in place, RERC partners and local stakeholders began shaping a specific action plan for St. Paul. These strategies will help the community capitalize on its outdoor recreation amenities while strengthening connections to Main Street businesses, public spaces, and visitor experiences.
“St. Paul is very fortunate to have been one of 25 communities from across the USA selected for the Recreation Economy for Rural Communities program,” said Kathy Stewart, manager of St. Paul Tomorrow. “This opportunity has given us tools and resources to improve access to our outdoor recreation assets and enhance the connection to public health.”
As the action plan is refined and implementation begins, St. Paul will continue working closely with federal, state, and local partners to bring its recreation-based development strategies to life.
Virginia Main Street 