We will discuss outdoor recreation trends in rural communities as they relate to downtown economic development, funding strategies available, and EPA’s Office of Community Revitalization technical assistance program, Recreational Economy for Rural Communities (RERC). The RERC program works with rural communities and small towns who have an interest in receiving planning assistance to help them leverage outdoor recreation for Main Street revitalization. Two RERC Main Street communities, Jasper, Alabama, and Columbiana, Alabama, will share their experiences to guide attendees through valuable lessons learned to help them navigate outdoor recreation hurdles and opportunities in their own communities.