As the Powell Economic Partnership seeks to boost the local economy with outdoor recreation, it’s getting some help from the federal government.

The Environmental Protection Agency and other federal agencies formally announced Tuesday that the Recreation Economy for Rural Communities planning assistance program is coming to Park County.

The program doesn’t offer any funding, but offers free help to communities so they can “develop a vision for community revitalization through the recreation economy,” according to EPA materials. That includes providing experts, building connections to local, state and federal partners and hosting an in-person workshop to develop an action plan.

Outgoing Powell Economic Partnership (PEP) Executive Director Rebekah Burns is excited about what the program can offer to Park County. Burns said the program will help Powell, Cody and Meeteetse “bring prosperity to our downtowns utilizing our local outdoor recreation assets.”

The Recreation Economy for Rural Communities program was created in 2019 and this marks the first time it’s come to Wyoming. Park County was one of 25 communities chosen from a pool of about 200 applicants.

“In Wyoming, we know firsthand how outdoor assets are cornerstones of both economic growth and quality of life in rural communities,” EPA Regional Administrator Cyrus Western, a former state legislator from Big Horn, said in a statement. “By supporting the Powell Economic Partnership, EPA is helping ensure that local leaders have the tools they need to advance their economy, create jobs and safeguard their natural resources.”

According to the EPA announcement, PEP will use the program to “create a cohesive outdoor recreation strategy, building trail connections between multiple towns” within Park County.

PEP has been working to develop a plan for a multiuse trail that would run alongside the railroad, starting with a stretch from Garland to Powell to Ralston. Burns said she hopes the federal planning can help eventually bring the trail to fruition. 

Beyond trails, the EPA said the program will help Park County “identify strategies to maintain natural assets and stewardship of natural resources while planning for outdoor recreation.”

Though PEP is focused on the Powell area, the organization worked to cover the entire county in their application, including stakeholders from Powell, Cody and Meeteetse.

As with the Park County Outdoor Recreation Collaborative, “it was better for everyone as a county effort,” Burns said.

The EPA’s planning assistance team will include federal staff and private contractors, according to an FAQ page on the program. They typically work with communities for about eight to 12 months in total.

Burns said the eventual action plan is intended to reflect the community’s vision for downtown.

“This opportunity allows Powell to build on our incredible outdoor recreation assets while breathing new life into our main streets,” Powell Mayor John Wetzel said in the EPA release. “By investing in our natural surroundings and creating vibrant community spaces, we’re not only strengthening our local economy but also enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors alike.” 

PEP applied for the program about a year ago and learned it had been selected in July, Burns said.

When seeking any kind of federal assistance, “you have to be patient,” she said, “but it’s well worth the wait.”

The federal agencies that participate in the program include the EPA, the U.S. Forest Service, the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Denali Commission and the Northern Border Regional Commission.