Alaska Breaks New Ground with EPA Recreation Economy Grants

Kayakers near Columbia Glacier in Prince William Sound. Photo by Lee Hart

Two Alaska communities are making history through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (RERC) program—marking important milestones for a relatively young but increasingly influential federal initiative.

Kotzebue and the Prince William Sound Economic Development District (PWSEDD) were selected in the latest RERC round, with Kotzebue becoming the first Arctic community ever awarded a grant through a program that has historically supported more traditional, land-based communities in the Lower 48.

The RERC program—led by the EPA in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Denali Commission, and the Northern Border Regional Commission—provides technical assistance to help rural communities strengthen economic connections between Main Street and the outdoors.

In Kotzebue, the grant supports a community-driven approach to outdoor recreation and downtown revitalization in an Arctic context. An in-person workshop will convene local leaders, businesses, and residents to co-develop strategies for year-round outdoor tourism, climate-resilient infrastructure improvements—particularly along Shore Avenue—and local business development that strengthens long-term economic vitality and quality of life.

“With our deep ties to the land, ocean, and traditional ways of life, revitalizing downtown and expanding outdoor recreation opportunities will improve the physical and mental health of our residents, support local businesses, and strengthen our connection to place,” said Mayor Derek Haviland-Lie of the City of Kotzebue, Alaska. “We are proud to work alongside our tribal, regional, and federal partners to create a more vibrant, resilient future for all who call Kotzebue home.”  - Shared from the official EPA press release about the grant program.

In Prince William Sound, the RERC process will bring tourism and economic development leaders from across the region together to identify shared priorities and collaborative strategies. A central focus will be exploring regional coordination and marketing opportunities potentially anchored by the long-envisioned Prince William Sound Marine Trail, reflecting the Sound’s unique marine-based recreation economy.

Alaska Outdoor Alliance Executive Director Lee Hart, through her consulting practice Antero Communications, is serving on the EPA's technical assistance team, Northbound Ventures, supporting implementation of both grants. Previously, Hart, working for Haines Economic Development Corp., wrote the RERC grant and initiated the comprehensive effort to leverage Haines' natural beauty for sustainable economic development through outdoor recreation. 

Together, these three RERC awards signal growing federal recognition that Arctic and marine regions belong at the forefront of the national outdoor recreation economy conversation.