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Greetings Dear Reader,
Welcome to the Office of Community Revitalization (OCR)’s December Newsletter! This edition is dedicated to sharing stories of the ongoing, community centered work OCR conducts in rural areas across the country.
Personally, I have lived in rural communities for nearly half of my life. During my childhood, my family and I experienced specific joys through access to open landscapes and immediate connections to nature. Hunting, fishing, farming, camping, hay baling, and herding—or otherwise being constantly outdoors—were framed by the horizons of sunrise and sunset across fields of alfalfa and ryegrasses. The distance from major cities or ports promoted resourcefulness and community interconnection.
More recently, I’ve lived in rural communities that are called home by families of varying economic means and ethnicities. Virtually everyone contributes in some way to the functioning of these village-like communities. Although there was plenty of space, land use decisions and policy changes felt surprisingly close. I have seen firsthand the tradeoffs between industry, jobs, resource conservation, affordable housing, and recreation that fuel debates in town halls, school yards, fellowship halls, and the local ballfields.
Today, with increasing threats from climate change, rural communities across our nation face a unique array of environmental and economic challenges. There’s an urgent need to plan for climate impacts in a manner that builds resilience and promotes equity reflective of the diversity within rural areas, while maintaining and strengthening a community’s special attributes and resources. We have opportunities now to promote growth while protecting critical agricultural lands, local swimming holes, favorite fishing spots, and historic features. We can work with rural communities to plan for the future, authentically.
Last month, OCR's Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (RERC) program convened a a debrief to reflect on lessons learned from a recently completed second round of planning assistance to communities. Along with other federal managers, I heard the lessons learned from the field experience of EPA staff who facilitated the RERC planning sessions. We shared successes, including funding received and partnerships built to advance community-led goals such as small-scale development projects, inclusive zoning measures, and greener housing.
We will continue to refine how we work with rural communities to help them meet their economic, housing, development, and planning needs in a way that safeguards their environment and sense of-of-place for all who call these areas home. As our work continues to support all communities, we are eager to work together with you.
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