Rural Outdoor Investment Act

Bill: 118-s-2604
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2023-07-27
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Community life and organization

Employment and training programs

Outdoor recreation

Regional and metropolitan planning

Rural conditions and development

Small business
Latest action: action_date: 2023-07-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Summaries:

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2604 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 27, 2023 Mr. Bennet (for himself and Mr. Schumer ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works A BILL To amend the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to provide grants for outdoor recreation projects to spur economic development, with a focus on rural communities, and to provide training for rural communities on funding opportunities for outdoor recreation, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Rural Outdoor Investment Act . 2. Outdoor recreation grants Title II of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 is amended by inserting after section 207 ( 42 U.S.C. 3147 ) the following: 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 2024 through 2028— (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. . 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; (2) to provide the basic training and informational materials developed under paragraph (1)— (A) through electronic formats, including internet-based webinars; and (B) at physical locations, including offices of the rural development mission area; and (3) to make the basic training and informational materials developed under paragraph (1) available to rural business development entities that partner with programs of the rural development mission area, including institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, business incubators, and business accelerators. 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. (b) Partnerships To build on the program, the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Under Secretary for Rural Development, in partnership with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall develop partnerships to connect the program to— (1) the Economic Development Administration and the Small Business Administration; and (2) the basic training and informational materials described in section 3. (c) Grants The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Under Secretary for Rural Development, in partnership with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall carry out a competitive grant program to assist entities otherwise eligible to receive assistance under the program in carrying out an action plan developed under the program. (d) Consultation (1) In general On request of a regional commission described in paragraph (2), the entities carrying out the program shall consult with the requesting regional commission in carrying out the program. (2) Regional commissions described A regional commission referred to in paragraph (1) is any of the following: (A) The Appalachian Regional Commission established by section 14301(a) of title 40, United States Code. (B) The Delta Regional Authority established under subtitle F of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 2009aa et seq. ). (C) The Denali Commission established under the Denali Commission Act of 1998 ( 42 U.S.C. 3121 note; title III of division C of Public Law 105–277 ). (D) The Great Lakes Authority established by section 15301(a)(4) of title 40, United States Code. (E) The Northern Border Regional Commission established by section 15301(a)(3) of title 40, United States Code. (F) The Northern Great Plains Regional Authority established under subtitle G of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 2009bb et seq. ). (G) The Southeast Crescent Regional Commission established by section 15301(a)(1) of title 40, United States Code. (H) The Southwest Border Regional Commission established by section 15301(a)(2) of title 40, United States Code. (e) Authorization of appropriations (1) In general There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the program $12,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028. (2) Grants Beginning with fiscal year 2025, of the funds made available under paragraph (1) for each fiscal year, not less than 50 percent shall be used to carry out the grant program under subsection (c).