By: BoatBlurb Staff
The Biden Administration has announced nearly $800 million in federal spending on infrastructure to promote the protection of the outdoor recreation economy, which includes campgrounds, trails, marinas, and waterways.
The investment was announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in a public statement. The news drew praise from the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, which included speakers from Brunswick Corporation, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), and the National Association of Outdoor Recreation Industry, among others.
"High-quality trails, campgrounds, marinas and other recreation infrastructure projects are crucial to healthy outdoor recreation economies, as are renewable energy and energy efficiency, rural services and utilities, water quality, high-speed broadband access and much more,” said ORR president Jessica Turner in a separate statement. "These critical investments ensure that our nation’s recreation destinations can thrive while mitigating their impacts on a changing climate and ensuring sustainable access for generations to come.”
The announcement comes as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Building a Better America Rural Infrastructure Tour. The infrastructure funding will be directed towards U.S. 40 states, Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands. The investment includes funding for 165 projects designed to expand access to safe water and/or clean energy.
“When we invest in infrastructure in rural communities, we are investing in our planet, and we’re also investing in the peace of mind families will have when kids are drinking clean and safe tap water in their homes. USDA is proud to celebrate Earth Day and the many ways we are addressing climate change and investing in locally-driven solutions to bring safe water and renewable energy to people in rural areas everywhere" said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack from the USDA.
