Recreation Economy for Rural Communities Implementation

RCAC has been working with Plumas County on implementing the Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (RERC) since Fall 2024. The RERC plan for Quincy was completed in 2022, with workshops in the summer and a final presentation to the Board of Supervisors on December 6, 2022. A digital version of the plan can be found here.

Upcoming Key Dates

  • none at this time

Previous Meetings

  • May 13, 2025 - Quincy RERC Collaborative Community Convening
    • On May 13, 2025, from 4-6pm, at the Quincy Veteran's Hall, all interested parties are invited to join Plumas County, RCAC, and the RERC Goal Champions for a community discussion on the implementation of the RERC Plan. This will include an update of work done to date as well as next steps. If interested, it is encouraged to register using this link here. If you would like a printable flyer, click here.

Plumas County May C3 Flyer FINAL JPG

  1. Goal 1 - Recreation
  2. Goal 2 - Tribal Collaboration
  3. Goal 3 - Downtown Quincy
  4. Goal - 4 Business and Economic Development
  5. Goal 5 - Workforce Housing and Lodging

Goal 1 – Recreation: Support recreation infrastructure needs in Quincy and ensure collaboration around future development projects.  

  • Action 1.1 – Develop a community sign plan for recreation opportunities around Quincy and install kiosks.
  • Action 1.2 – Ensure that current information about trail locations is available and consistent across multiple platforms. 
  • Action 1.3 – Convene conservation and recreation partners for an annual “report out.” 
  • Action 1.4 – Collaborate with Plumas County and USDA Forest Service to connect downtown to local/regional trail assets with bike lanes/paths and sidewalks.
  • Action 1.5 – Convene a community collaborative to implement the action plan.

How did we get here?

Quincy was one of 25 towns across the nation selected to receive planning assistance through the second round of the Recreation Economy for Rural Communities program. Sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the USDA Forest Service, the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC), and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), the program is helping communities develop action plans to strengthen their outdoor recreation sectors and revitalize their downtowns.

Local leaders from Quincy requested planning assistance to address the economic challenges the region faces and leverage its unmatched natural amenities to support renewed community vitality. Historically dependent on extractive industries that have declined, the economy in Plumas County has not recovered and it is now among California’s poorest counties. With limited job opportunities, the county is losing young people and families, and the population is shrinking. This trend, combined with low tourist traffic, mean local businesses are struggling.

At the same time, Quincy and Plumas County are surrounded by a bounty of natural resources. With 65 percent of the county covered by National Forest land, there is vast potential for outdoor recreation—and for the economic development that can come with it. The area’s reputation for world-class mountain biking is already spreading, and an extensive regional network of multi-use trails is in the works. Recovery from the devastating 2021 wildfires is underway and funding is becoming available to support the area.

Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship and a coalition of partners applied to the Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (RERC) program in order to seize these opportunities and create a thriving working landscape that supports local livelihoods, quality of life, and recreational opportunities for all in Quincy and Plumas County. The community is seeking to provide equitable access to outdoor recreation, strengthen collaboration with Tribal partners, increase the vibrancy of downtown Quincy, grow small businesses and jobs, and meet workforce housing and lodging needs.

Over the course of a year, a Local Steering Committee worked with a Planning Assistance Team made up of planning consultants and federal and state agency partners to assess opportunities and challenges, set goals to strengthen Plumas County’s recreation economy and invigorate Quincy’s downtown, convene a public workshop on June 8-9, 2022, and create this Community Action Plan. The plan was developed through a grassroots collaborative process starting at the workshop and continuing in follow-up meetings focused on refining it and identifying implementation resources.

The plan documents the workshop process and community feedback and includes a set of specific actions—complete with initial steps and timeframes, lead and support roles, and measures of success—to guide recreation economy development in Quincy and Plumas County over the next few years.