Industry Shares Support for Rural Outdoor Investment Act

Leading outdoor recreation organizations are fully supporting Senator Michael Bennet and Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury’s newly introduced Rural Outdoor Investment (ROI) Act. This bill provides support for rural communities seeking to build and plan for recreation economies. 

If passed, the ROI Act’s funding could not come at a better time. Outdoor recreation participation sky-rocketed during the pandemic as millions of Americans flocked toward local and federal public lands and waters. For the gateway communities alongside these treasured destinations, this new interest presents excellent opportunities for economic diversification and stability, as well as new challenges to manage around stewardship, housing, and visitor management. The ROI Act would direct resources to help communities strategically integrate outdoor recreation into their plans. 

The ROI Act will provide: 

• $30 million for public works through the Economic Development Administration (EDA). This would fund necessary infrastructure improvements from signage to boat ramps and new trails. 
• $5 million for grants through EDA for communities to create recreation economy plans that optimize their natural spaces including marketing, branding, business development, fundraising, and tourism management. 
• $2.5 million in university partnerships to promote place-based research, education, and technical assistance to local stakeholders and businesses for this high growth sector. 

• $12.5 million for the Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (RERC) grants program for main street revitalization through outdoor recreation. 

Read more about the ROI Act here. 

Read the full ROI Act bill language here.