THIS EDA ECONOMIC ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE TO COAL COMMUNITIES AWARD WILL HELP THE CENTRAL UPPER PENINSULA PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT REGIONAL COMMISSION (CUPPAD) DEVELOP ITS OUTDOOR RECREATION INDUSTRY INNOVATION GROWTH STRATEGY. THE SIX-COUNTY AREA SERVED BY CUPPAD SUFFERS FROM CHRONIC LOW PER CAPITA INCOME AND THE LOSS OF 89 JOBS DUE TO THE 2019 PRESQUE ISLE POWER PLANT CLOSURE. LOCAL LEADERS RECOGNIZED THE NEED TO DIVERSIFY THEIR ECONOMY BY ENCOURAGING THE GROWTH OF NEW AND EMERGING INDUSTRIES LIKE OUTDOOR RECREATION. AS ELECTRIC AND OTHER PROPULSION TECHNOLOGIES EXPAND, THE OUTDOOR RECREATION INDUSTRY, ALREADY A SOURCE OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN THE REGION, WILL EXPAND. THE EDA-FUNDED STRATEGY WILL STUDY ALL OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH IN THE REGIONAL OUTDOOR RECREATION INDUSTRY INCLUDING ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND RESOURCES FOR TECHNOLOGY-ORIENTED ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT OUTDOOR RECREATION.