Beyond tourism

Just down Route 28, in Yarmouth, there is a 136-room Hampton Inn, the first completely new hotel on the Cape since the 1980s, and opportunity is being created for aging motels, as well. So far, four motel owners have applied for funds to convert their properties into housing, some of which will be designated as affordable.

“We’re trying to provide a variety of housing opportunities to retain our population,’’ said Karen Greene, Yarmouth’s director of community development.

Another frontier is green technology. The Cape Cod Economic Development Council was awarded a $400,000 state grant to teach plumbers, contractors, and electricians about solar and energy-efficient technologies - boosting their value to potential employers. In Bourne, a plan is underway for a green technology industrial park that could support 10 companies and 1,400 jobs.

As they have for years, residents worry that attracting new workers could change the character of the Cape, even as many accept that the economy must be diversified.

Lee Elman, who for 25 years has lived part time with her husband in a sun-filled house on a hill in Truro, opposed a Stop & Shop supermarket intended for her town. But she welcomed technology and the opportunities it could provide, saying, “I think it’s really important for this community to survive.’’

Katie Johnston Chase can be reached at johnstonchase@globe.com.