Based on the Rural Outdoor Investment Act, Provisions in Economic Development Legislation Will Recognize Importance of Outdoor Recreation for Public Funding
Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet cheered Senate passage of legislation to reauthorize the Economic Development Administration (EDA), which included provisions from a bill he introduced in 2023 that recognizes outdoor recreation as a key driver of rural economies and prioritizes it for future federal funding opportunities.
“In Colorado, outdoor recreation is an economic engine and a cornerstone of our Western way of life. Investments in trails, boat ramps, and campgrounds help attract tourism, boost local economies, and create good-paying jobs,” said Bennet. “By passing this legislation, Congress is finally recognizing its importance to rural economies and ensuring that as demand for outdoor recreation in Colorado grows, rural economies grow too.”
The EDA’s Public Works grant program helps communities invest in local infrastructure to attract new industry, encourage business expansion, diversify local economies, generate local investment, and create or retain jobs. This reauthorization bolsters funding for the Public Works program to a historic $270 million annually and, for the first time, gives outdoor recreation special importance when awarding these grants. The new focus will mean that recreation assets will be recognized as vital elements for growing economies across Colorado to build a sustainable economic future and improve quality of life for people living in rural communities.
“OIA and its members are thrilled to see Congress elevate recreation as an infrastructure priority through the EDA for the first time. This funding will not only help Main Streets across the country better connect with recreation assets but also enable communities to build infrastructure that enhances residents’ quality of life,” said Kent Ebersole, President of Outdoor Industry Association. “We want to thank Senators Bennet and Schumer for championing this win-win approach—helping grow local businesses while improving people’s access to the outdoors. This is exactly the kind of forward-thinking support rural America needs right now.”
Last year, Bennet, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) introduced the Rural Outdoor Investment Act to promote economic growth in rural communities by investing in outdoor recreation infrastructure, planning, and business development. In August 2023, Bennet called on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee to consider their legislation.