Last week, Senators Michael Bennet, Chuck Schumer, and Sherrod Brown urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to revise its funding policies to include outdoor recreation projects under its Community Facilities Program (CFP). The move aims to stimulate economic growth and improve the quality of life in rural communities across the nation.
The senators’ push follows discussions with state leaders who expressed a strong need for expanded USDA community facility funding to grow rural economies. By making outdoor recreation projects eligible for these funds, the senators believe small towns can diversify their economic bases and attract more residents and visitors.
Currently, USDA’s CFP provides loans and grants to develop essential facilities in rural areas. These include fire stations, town halls, health clinics, schools, and libraries. The program’s goal is to ensure that rural communities offer the same quality of life and services as urban areas. Despite the benefits, outdoor recreation projects remain ineligible, a policy the senators are seeking to change.
In a joint statement, the senators emphasized the potential of outdoor recreation to bolster local economies. “The federal government has an opportunity to support rural areas as they make their communities more accessible and attractive to live, work, and spend their time,” they wrote.
Citing examples such as bike trails in Fruita, Colorado, paddling and boating in Lake Placid, New York, and hiking on the Buckeye Trail in Ohio, the senators highlighted the proven success of these investments in enhancing local economies.
The push for inclusion in the USDA funding follows a report detailing the outdoor recreation industry’s significant economic impact, including creating 5 million jobs and contributing $1.1 trillion to the U.S. economy. However, investment has stagnated, prompting the senators to act.
In their letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small, the senators outlined the feedback from state directors of outdoor recreation. They stressed that the current ineligibility of community facilities for outdoor recreation infrastructure funding limits the economic potential of these areas.
“Americans are increasingly venturing outdoors with a renewed passion, However, investment in this vital economic engine has stagnated,” the senators noted. They proposed that facilitating access to outdoor recreation through the Community Facilities program could foster an economy beneficial to all, particularly rural communities.
Support for this initiative comes from various stakeholders, including the Trust for Public Land. Luis Benitez, chief impact officer at the organization, praised the senators’ efforts, noting the critical need for infrastructure that supports easy access to recreational activities, which can be scarce in rural regions surrounded by public lands.
Jessica (Wahl) Turner, president of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, also expressed strong support. “We applaud Senators Bennet, Schumer, and Brown for focusing on recreation as a rural economic development tool by making outdoor recreation projects eligible for this USDA funding,” Turner said. She emphasized the transformative potential of such funding on the economic and social fabric of rural communities.
Further advocating for the economic benefits of outdoor recreation, the senators have previously introduced legislation such as the Rural Outdoor Investment Act. This act aims to promote economic growth in rural areas by investing in outdoor recreation infrastructure, planning, and business development.