S 3583 — Rural Outdoor Investment Act

Summary

Rural Outdoor Investment Act This bill directs the Department of Commerce to make grants to eligible recipients for outdoor recreation projects to spur economic development, with a focus on rural communities. Commerce shall develop a partnership agreement to provide for the development of, among other things, basic training, including in-person or modular training sessions, for small businesses and rural communities.

Bill Text

• Introduced Introduced in Senate Current html February 03, 2022

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill establishes new grant programs for outdoor recreation projects and training for rural communities within the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965.

• 42 U.S.C. 3147

  SEC. 208. OUTDOOR RECREATION GRANTS. (a) Definition of Outdoor Recreation.--In this section, the term 'outdoor recreation' means all recreational activities undertaken for pleasure that-- (1) generally involve some level of intentional physical exertion; and (2) occur in nature-based environments outdoors. (b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall make grants to eligible recipients for outdoor recreation projects to spur economic development, with a focus on rural communities. (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026-- (1) $30,000,000 for grants under section 201 for outdoor recreation projects to spur economic development, with a focus on rural communities; (2) $5,000,000 for grants under section 203 for outdoor recreation projects to spur economic development, with a focus on rural communities; and (3) $2,500,000 for grants under section 207 for outdoor recreation projects to spur economic development, with a focus on rural communities.

  This creates a new section for outdoor recreation grants, authorizing specific funding amounts over the next five years.

• SEC. 3. TRAINING FOR RURAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION. Beginning not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, in consultation with the Administrator of the Small Business Administration and the Secretary of Agriculture, shall develop a partnership agreement-- (1) to provide for the development of-- (A) basic training, including in-person or modular training sessions, for small business concerns (as defined in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632)) and rural communities relating to existing funding opportunities for outdoor recreation, including funding opportunities for-- (i) business development; (ii) community planning; (iii) infrastructure investment; (iv) community capacity building; and (v) marketing and communications; (B) informational materials relating to existing funding opportunities described in subparagraph (A); and (C) opportunities to coordinate among Federal departments and agencies to share the basic training and informational materials developed under subparagraphs (A) and (B) with those departments and agencies and relevant nongovernmental organizations;

  This mandates the development of training for rural communities on existing funding opportunities related to outdoor recreation.

• SEC. 4. RECREATION ECONOMY FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES. (a) Definition of Program.--In this section, the term 'program' means the Recreation Economy for Rural Communities planning assistance program sponsored by the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Under Secretary for Rural Development, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.

  This introduces a new program to assist rural communities in planning for recreation-based economic development.

• There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the program $12,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.

  This allocates funding for the new Recreation Economy planning assistance program.

Action History

1. February 03, 2022

   Introduced in Senate

2. February 03, 2022

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Sponsors

• Michael F. Bennet · Primary

Subjects