-  About RD                  -  Key Priorities                    -  Priority Points Program Chart 
                -  Rural Development Priorities: FY 2023 
                -  Rural Development Priorities: FY 2024 
              -  History 
              -  Farm Bill 
              -  Grant Awards 
              -  Careers at Rural Development                    -  Current Job Opportunities 
              -  Rural Data Gateway 
              -  Leadership                    -  Under Secretary  
                -  Deputy Under Secretary 
                -  Chief Operating Officer 
                -  Administrators 
                -  State Directors 
              -  Agencies                    -   Rural Business-Cooperative Service                      -  Rural Business-Cooperative Service Contacts 
                -   Rural Housing Service                      -  Rural Housing Service Contacts 
                -   Rural Utilities Service                      -  Rural Utilities Service Contacts 
              -  Offices                    -  Business Center 
                -  Civil Rights                       -  Civil Rights Contacts 
                  -  Equal Employment Opportunity Branch 
                  -  Program Compliant Processing and Resolution Branch 
                  -  Program Compliance and Training Branch 
                  -  Posters 
                  -  Civil Rights Training 
                  -  Limited English Proficiency 
                  -  Civil Rights Library 
                  -  Accessibility Statement 
                -  External Affairs 
                -  Innovation Center                      -  Innovation Center Divisions 
                -  Risk Office 
                -  State Offices 
                -  Servicing Office 
              -  Initiatives                    -  Healthy Food Financing Initiative 
                -  Interagency Working Group on Cooperative Development                      -  Partners                        -  Federal 
                    -  Tribal 
                    -  State & Local 
                    -  Private Sector 
                  -  Funding Resources                        -  Grant Funding 
                    -  Equity Capital 
                    -  Loans and Guaranteed Loans 
                    -  Revolving Loan Funds 
                    -  Crowd Sourcing 
                    -  Technical Assistance 
                    -  Other 
                  -  Development Tools 
                  -  Publications & Information 
                -  Promise Zones 
                -  Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity (PAVE) 
                -  Rural Placemaking 
                -  Substantially Underserved Trust Area (SUTA) 
              -  Tribal Relations                    -  Tribal Relations Events 

**Program Status**: Closed**Application Deadline**: August, 15, 2022

## Overview

USDA is making available up to $4 million in cooperative agreement funds under the Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge (RPIC) for eligible entities to help provide planning support, technical assistance and training to foster placemaking activities in rural communities.

Qualified entities can use the funds to help rural communities create plans to enhance capacity for broadband access; preserve cultural and historic structures; and support the development of transportation, housing, and recreational spaces.

For more information, contact RD.RPIC@usda.gov.

Factsheet Spanish Factsheet Federal Register NoticeFAQsVirtual EventsSubscribe to Updates

### What is Rural Placemaking?

Placemaking is a collaborative engagement process that helps leaders from rural communities create quality places where people will want to live, work, play and learn. By bringing together partners from public, private, Tribal, philanthropic communities, and technology sectors, placemaking is a wrap-around approach to community and economic development that incorporates creativity, infrastructure initiatives, and vibrant public spaces.

### How to Apply

Application Form Application Checklist

### Who May Apply?

All eligible applicants must demonstrate experience in administering state and/or federal grants and providing economic development and placemaking technical assistance in one of the four regions. Eligible entities are:
                  - Federally recognized Tribes and Tribal Entities;
                  - Institutions of higher education including 1862 Land-Grant Institutions, 1890 Land-Grant Institutions,1994 Land-Grant Institutions, Hispanic-Serving Institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities;
                  - Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) IRS status;
                  - Public bodies; or
                  - Small private entities that meet the size standards established by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

### What kind of funding is available?

                  - USDA is making available up to $4 million in cooperative agreement funds.
                  - The maximum award is $250,000.

### How may funds be used?

                  - Qualified entities may use the funds to provide technical assistance and training to help rural communities develop actionable placemaking plans, convene partners and identify community needs.
                  - USDA encourages applications that support communities’ planning projects that enhance capacity for broadband infrastructure, deployment and/or access.
                  - The assistance must be provided for up to two years.

### Virtual Events

**General Office Hours**Wednesday, August 3, 20222:00 p.m. Eastern Time

**Tribal Specific Office Hours**Thursday, July 21, 2022, 2:00 p.m. Eastern TimePrevious Session - Tribal Specific Office Hours: https://youtu.be/WaKbxqOekho

**General Office Hours**Wednesday, July 20, 20222:00 p.m. Eastern TimePrevious Session - General Office Hours:  https://youtu.be/vll5erj26VM

**Applicant Information Session**: https://youtu.be/W-748bgnQPw

### Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

                    - Available Funds	 - How much funding is available?  Up to $4 million is available for cooperative agreement funding. The maximum award per recipient is $250,000. 
- How many awards does USDA anticipate making?  The number of awards is based on the following:    - The number of applications received
  - The overall amount of grant funds requested
  - The highest scoring application in each of the four regions (Northeast, South, Midwest, and West) 
  - The highest scoring Tribal application  		Additionally, up to four of the highest scoring applications that serve one or more communities in the Rural Partners Network (RPN – information is available at this link:  https://www.rural.gov ) will be selected first. The remaining applications will be selected by highest score until all remaining available funds are exhausted.
- Will applicants who identify more than one community receive more funding?  Not necessarily. There is neither a funding advantage nor disadvantage to the number of communities served. Funding is based on the scoring criteria described in Part 6, Section B, “Scoring Process,” and the “Review and Selection Process” described in Part 6, Section C of the Notice of Funding Availability 		(NOFA – available at this link: https://go.usa.gov/xJehT). The maximum award amount for any one applicant is $250,000. 
 
                    - Definitions	 - What does “rural placemaking” mean under RPIC?  Placemaking is a collaborative engagement process that helps leaders from rural communities create quality places where people want to live, work, learn, and play. 		Working with partners in the public, private, Tribal, philanthropic, and technology sectors, placemaking uses a wrap-around approach to community and economic development that blends creativity and infrastructure initiatives to build and promote vibrant public spaces. 
- What does “multijurisdictional” mean?  “Multijurisdictional” means more than one jurisdiction.   “Jurisdiction” refers to a unit of government or other entity with similar powers, such as a city, county, district, special purpose district, township, town, borough, parish, village, state, Tribe, and so on. 
- What does “multisectoral” mean?  “Multisectoral” means intentional collaboration between two or more sectors (for example, utility, health, housing, or community services, among others) to accomplish goals and achieve specific outcomes in communities and regions. 
- What does “substantial involvement” mean as part of the cooperative agreement?  USDA Rural Development staff intends to actively engage in the placemaking process. It is your responsibility as an RPIC applicant to identify areas in which we can provide substantial involvement in your project. If these tasks are not identified, your application will not be eligible for funding. 
- What are some examples of substantial involvement?    - Technical assistance providers and Rural Development staff can co-host joint convenings for community members, partners, and stakeholders.
  - Technical assistance providers can invite RD staff to community meetings, and keep them informed of progress under the workplan.
  - The recipient and Rural Development staff can collaborate jointly to carry out the work plan. Examples of areas in which we can participate include collecting data, making presentations, reviewing literature, developing training, conducting research, drafting papers and reports, and providing technical assistance. 
  - Our staff can provide training about USDA Rural Development programs to your personnel.
- What is the Rural Partners Network?  The Rural Partners Network (RPN – information is available at this link: https://www.rural.gov) is an alliance of federal agencies and civic partners working to expand rural prosperity through job creation, infrastructure development, and community improvement. 
- What are RPN Community Networks?  Historically, USDA has seen great success when counties and other interested stakeholders collaborate with one another. When being considered for RPN, rural stakeholders are asked to define their community network. Examples include illustrating their footprint as a multicounty region, or demonstrating an existing, successful collaboration between key organizations and anchor institutions. You can learn more about RPN Community Networks at this link: https://go.usa.gov/xJGJD. 
 
                    - Applicant and Project Eligibility	 - What types of private groups or entities are eligible to apply?  Small, private businesses or entities that meet size standards established by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA – information is available at this link: https://go.usa.gov/xJwbh) can apply. You must demonstrate your organization’s capacity to deliver and support rural placemaking planning activities within **at least one** of four regions (Northeast, South, Midwest, or West), and show that have previous experience with federal or state grant administration. You also must demonstrate experience in economic development and placemaking technical assistance. 
- Is the applicant the community that will receive placemaking technical assistance, or is the applicant the technical assistance provider?   The applicant is the technical assistance provider, and must demonstrate they meet the capacity requirements of delivering placemaking technical assistance.		Technical assistance providers can be public or private groups, organizations, or institutions of higher learning that demonstrate experience and expertise in providing placemaking technical assistance to rural communities. They also must have prior experience with federal or state grant administration, and demonstrate experience in economic development and placemaking technical assistance. 
- Does RPIC fund urban and rural planning and land use projects?  Provided the project meets the definition of “rural area” and is otherwise eligible, yes. RPIC was created to fund comprehensive rural placemaking activities for rural communities. RPIC uses the USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service’s “rural area” definition: Any area **other than** 1. a city or town with a population greater than 50,000, **and**2. any rural, urbanized area adjacent to such a city or town. 
- Are applicants required to develop a regional plan, such as a Community Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)?  Yes. You must develop a placemaking plan that includes implementation stages. Your plan can focus on the technical assistance you intend to provide, or you can instead strengthen an already-existing placemaking plan. Your proposal must identify in detail the region or regions you intend to serve (Northeast, South, Midwest, or West), and it must also describe any multisectorial or multijurisdictional plan elements. 
- Is an applicant required to cover an entire region such as a whole state, or the Midwest?  No. The applicant does not need to serve an entire region. See Part 3 of the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA – available at this link: https://go.usa.gov/xJehT) for a complete definition of “region.” 		In your application, you must identify the geographic locations your project will serve. This information must be included in the executive summary of your proposal.  
- How may funds be used?  Grant recipients can use funds to provide technical assistance and training to help rural communities identify and gather partners, establish community needs, and develop placemaking plans. We particularly encourage applications that support planning projects to improve capacity for broadband infrastructure, deployment and access. 
- Can funds be used to purchase materials including public furniture, historic doors, historic windows, exhibit display furniture to help preserve an historic building, structure, or residence?  No. RPIC funding is intended for technical assistance and mentoring activities used in rural placemaking. For additional information, see “unallowable costs” under 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E, available at this link: https://go.usa.gov/xJGSt.  
- Can funds be used finance the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment?  No. RPIC funding is intended for technical assistance and mentoring activities used in rural placemaking. For additional information, see “unallowable costs” under 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E, available at this link: https://go.usa.gov/xJGSt.  
- Can a portion of RPIC funding be used for administration fees such as paying for a grant writer?  No. For more information, see Part 4, Section E of the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA – available at this link: https://go.usa.gov/xJehT) and 2 CFR, Part 200, Subpart E (available at this link: https://go.usa.gov/xJGSt), and 2 CFR, Part 400 (available at this link: https://go.usa.gov/xJGhb) for a list of unallowable costs.   Funds cannot be used for grant writing services, or any other costs incurred before the grant award date. 
- Can the applicant use RPIC funds to subcontract with – or hire – a consultant to perform the majority of planning or implementation tasks?  To some degree, yes. However, **not more than 49 percent** of the federal grant amount requested can be contracted out. RPIC awards are made through a cooperative agreement, and awardees are referred to as “cooperators.” 		The cooperative agreement requires substantial involvement from – and collaboration among – Rural Development staff and cooperators, who are expected to provide **a majority of** technical assistance and project development. 		Although it will not disqualify your application from being considered, you must state why a contractor is necessary for your project.   
- What is considered a prohibited use of funds?  In addition to costs identified as unallowable by 2 CFR Part 200 or 400 (for links to these regulations, **see A16 on page 5**), neither award nor matching funds can be used to pay for the following types of expenses:    - Construction in any form
  - The purchase of real estate
  - Grants to individuals
  - Funding a grant in which there is a conflict of interest – or the appearance of a conflict of interest – involving any action by USDA Rural Development
 
                    - Cost Share (Matching Funds)	 - Is a match required for this grant?  Yes. A minimum 15 percent match of the grant amount requested is required. You can make matching commitments in cash, or use a combination of cash and confirmed funding commitments with third-party, in-kind contributions from one or more private, philanthropic or eligible public partners. The minimum 15 percent match must be committed for the entire length of the cooperative agreement performance period, and any cost sharing or matching must be verified when you submit your application. 		You also are allowed to combine third party in-kind contributions (as defined in 2 CFR 200.306 – available at this link: https://go.usa.gov/xJ7an) from a partner or partners, with your**cash contribution**, but you are not allowed to provide your own**in-kind contribution** as part of the match combination. If you are going to provide your own match contribution, that match must be documented as a cash contribution.  
- How are match commitments submitted to USDA?   The RPIC matching funds letter must be written on the organization’s letterhead, and signed by the donating organization’s authorized representative. It must identify the amount of matching funds or in-kind services and goods, the time period in which the matching contribution will be available, and the source of the funds (such as cash on hand, bank statements, and so on).    - If providing an in-kind match, the third-party contributor must include details on how those in-kind sources will be identified and tracked by the contributor.
  - The contributor must also identify the value of each of the goods or services (including indirect and direct costs) being offered.
  - If using calculated hours for estimating any in-kind service, the contributor must also demonstrate how the in-kind value was determined in calculating the total cost for the in-kind match and associated personnel. Applicant matching funds must be included in the proposal’s budget justification. For matching funds offered by project partners, a separate matching funds letter is required for each cash or third-party, in-kind match contribution. Matching funds letters must be signed by the authorized representative of the contributing organization and the applicant organization, **and**include the following elements::    - The name, address, and telephone number of the contributor
  - The name of the applicant organization
  - The title of the project for which the contribution is being made
  - The dollar amount of the contribution
  - A statement that the contributor commits to furnish the contribution  during the entire length  of the cooperative agreement period Applications without signed, written commitments are considered incomplete and will be ineligible for funding consideration. The value of applicant contributions to the project is established according to federal cost principles. 
- Where can I find more information on cost sharing and matching funds?  Additional details about cost sharing or matching funds and contributions can be found at 2 CFR 200.306 (available at this link: https://go.usa.gov/xJ7YY). 
 
                    - How to Submit an Application	 - Can applicants mail applications to USDA Rural Development if there is a technical issue with Grants.gov?  No. You are required to submit your application to https://www.grants.gov by the deadline, and you must assume the risk of any delays in submitting your application. If you encounter issues with Grants.gov, you can contact their help desk at (800) 518-4726, or by email at support@grants.gov. 
- How can applicants apply online?  Follow Grants.gov system registration requirements (information is available at this link: https://go.usa.gov/xJ7gF) to submit your application. We recommend you review the registration instructions **at least two weeks** before you plan to submit. 
- How can applicants register on Grants.gov?  To register in the Grants.gov system, go to https://www.grants.gov, click “Applicants,” then click “Get Registered.” 
- How can applicants make sure all required documents are included in the application prior to submission?  All checklists, application materials, and standard forms necessary for submission are included in the https://www.grants.gov application package. 
- Can technical assistance providers who serve more than one community submit multiple applications that identify different communities or regions in order to increase my chances for award?  No. Applicants may not submit more than one application. However, applicants may identify **more than one community** that will receive placemaking assistance in the application. 
 
                    - Optional Innovation Seed Grant	 - What is the Optional Innovation Seed Grant?  This option will be scored only if your proposal and budget provides for a system of funding Innovation Seed Grants, which are intended to fund new and innovative projects highlighted in your placemaking plan. 		These seed grants are small financial awards designed help get a specific project in your plan underway. You can set aside a maximum of 10 percent of your award funds for an Innovation Seed Grant. To learn more, see Part 6, Section B, Subsection G of the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA – available at this link: https://go.usa.gov/xJehT). 
- How are Innovation Seed Grants evaluated?  To be considered, you must provide a brief narrative of how the Innovation Seed Grant will be developed, administered, and implemented. See the NOFA (NOFA – available at this link: https://go.usa.gov/xJehT) for specific details.  
- How must Innovation Seed Grants be used?  The Innovation Seed Grant must be used for placemaking plan implementation by funding a new and innovative project identified in your placemaking plan under Options 1 or 2 of the RPIC scoring criteria, in Part 6, Section B, Subsection G of the NOFA (NOFA – available at this link: https://go.usa.gov/xJehT).		These seed grants are small financial awards designed to help get a specific project in your plan underway. To learn more, see Part 6, Section B, Subsection G of the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA – available at this link: https://go.usa.gov/xJehT). 
 
                    - Substantial Involvement	 - Do I need to know which RD staff will be involved in the workplan – and/or do I need letters from RD saying they support my workplan with their involvement? Will you please explain this paragraph in the NOFA?   Agency staff intends to actively engage in the placemaking process, and it is the responsibility of the applicant to identify tasks where RD staff can provide substantial involvement in the project. If these tasks are not identified, the application will not be eligible for funding.  This is only an outline of how you would like to involve RD staff in the state(s) you are working in with the communities you are serving. You do not need to have any letters of support or commitment before making application from the RD state, or staff. We recognize this relationship will be or could be a developed relationship after the award.  If you were to receive an award and become a Cooperator, after closing we would sit down with the RD State Director, and their staff and discuss who would be the point(s) of contact from RD for the Agreement. That may be one or multiple people. At that time, we would make any adjustments to your workplan based on the RD staff availability.  We understand this is about “cooperation” neither party supervises the other – therefore we recognize there will need to be some adjustments made as the work is developed. To write or develop your Workplan, you should describe how you envision involving RD staff and how you would work cooperatively in involving them in working with the community or communities appropriately. 
- Once application is approved and criteria met, is there continued involvement from USDA?  The award is through a Cooperative Agreement and the nature of a cooperative agreement requires continued collaboration between the awardee (called the cooperator) and USDA RD staff. The NOFA requires that the Workplan outline where RD staff would be involved. See Part IV Section B – Eligible Project  “The proposed project must include a component that allows for active participation by the Cooperator and substantial involvement by RD in the majority of specified tasks outlined in the applicant’s project proposal. Examples of measurable substantial involvement include, but are not limited to, the following: joint convenings of community members, partners, and stakeholders; joint delivery of training for RD programs; and the development of training sessions and outreach materials. It is the intent of this project to engage RD staff in the placemaking process, and it is the responsibility of the applicant to identify specific tasks where RD staff can provide measurable, substantial involvement in the project. If such tasks are not identified, the application will not be eligible for funding.” 
 
                    - Other Questions	 - What advice would you give a person on where to start who owns a small business and/or a person who has never applied a grant?   We encourage you to read and understand the requirements under the NOFA, if you do not meet the eligibility or capacity requirements – those would be the first steps to acquire those requirements for applying for future funding opportunities. 
- Do we need to have established relationships with philanthropic partners, or can we be working on building them?  Part of the scoring requirements under Part VI relates to partnerships – it is not a requirement for eligibility to “have” established philanthropic relationships to apply. The applicant will however be scored on these or other relationships, and how they will engage with new partners. 
- Could a successful placemaking plan focus on one element of livability, or should it include all of the elements?  USDA is not prescriptive on how the applicants develop their workplan, the plans will be scored on the concepts of RPIC as described in the NOFA for placemaking under the idea of live-work-play. How you address this under the element of “livability” is up to you as the applicant. If your project is limited to only one community, you will need to address how more than one sector is being addressed as well. 
- Is including broadband a must in a successful proposal?  No, however, you should be aware there is a scoring component to address “Broadband Planning for Infrastructure, Deployment and/or Access”. You may want to focus more on Economically Distressed Communities under this Scoring criterion – but providing information that addresses Broadband planning, is NOT a requirement for eligibility. 
- What if an applicant has experience in elements of placemaking (e.g. outdoor recreation space development) but not the full spectrum of all elements of placemaking?  This may enable your application to meet the eligibility criterion, however, scoring might be impacted. You should review Part VI Section B (3) (c) “Organizational Capacity & Qualifications” to determine scoring potential. 
- Can a partnership/venture between a university and small business qualify as an applicant?  There is not enough information provided to make a determination regarding eligibility. More detail can be provided in one of the upcoming “Office Hours” sessions and we can render a determination at that time. 
- Are development/design plans for Anchor Buildings in rural areas eligible if the building can be tied to the communities placemaking infrastructure?  The purpose of RPIC is to develop a Placemaking Plan form the technical assistance of placemaking activities. The objective of RPIC is not to pay for the design plans. However, one objective in the placemaking process could be to create a goal that seeks funding for those design plans among other elements in the Placemaking project. 
- Can we think about particular populations or areas within a jurisdiction (i.e. predominately African American communities, islands, etc.), or does the project need to widely benefit the entire rural community?  It is an eligibility criterion under: Part IV Section B Eligible Project: The project must also directly benefit a rural area. All ultimate beneficiaries and/or subrecipients must be located in rural areas, and any activities or tasks must occur in rural areas. After you meet this criterion you can then focus on specific populations within the rural areas. 
- If the application covers different geographies/communities, is the expectation that all application materials keep information separate for the different communities (budget, etc.)?  Budget information can be aggregated for all communities, however, the overall proposal should identify each of the communities to be served under RPIC. Whether or not the tasks and timeline, for the communities, are identified separately or in aggregate the work plan should be clear and concise. 
- If a 501c3 is the applicant, can they bring in two projects within the same application that are in different geographic areas that are working under the same general framework for the placemaking technical assistance (convening, product, etc.)? In each geographic location the project would be multi-jurisdictional (2 - 3) and multi-sector (2 - 3).  Theoretically, this is possible, however, depending on how these projects meet the criterion for placemaking and other elements, the scoring may be impacted. Overall, it would depend on what geographic areas are being referred to. i.e.: a community in the northeast and a community in the west. We would need more information to better assess the situation. 
- Who defines placemaking technical assistance? Is this a specific type of assistance defined or can we describe what that means to us as the applicant?  The NOFA defines placemaking under RPIC – see Part III for the definition of Placemaking, and Placemaking Plan. Placemaking means a process involving public, private, philanthropic and community partners working together to strategically improve the social, cultural, and economic structure of a community. This work is based on a sense of place with qualitative and quantitative outcomes. Placemaking Plan means a written document that describes the strategic plan for the community to implement the goals and objectives identified through the placemaking planning process. 
- Do you work with communities that are considering becoming Main Street Communities, or is that a conflict? Seems like they (Main Street) would be a cooperator?  Any applicant who meets the Eligibility Criteria is welcome to apply for RPIC. 
- How important is the implementation component? Obviously technical assistance and planning is critical. But as it relates to implementation support, are you looking for applicants to assist with implementing the plans? or are you looking for the applicants to provide resources, training and accountability to ensure that the jurisdiction implements the plans?  The planning and implementation are both seen as critical to placemaking. First is for the technical assistance provider (Cooperator) to help and train the community in the process of planning and capacity development in developing actionable plans. That written plans are developed with full community participation. Second, that the technical assistance provider (Cooperator) mentors or leads the communities on how to bring the plans to reality and help them understand how to seek funds for the projects listed in the plans. To help them understand the process for capital stacking and how to seek funding for projects, and how to make projects sustainable. 
- What evidence is needed to demonstrate that our community is an economically distressed community, especially since Covid-19?   The NOFA provides a tool you may use - The Distressed Communities Index (DCI) is considered a good tool for identifying economically distressed communities. https://ruraldevelopment.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=06a26a91d074426d944d22715a90311e  You may select other community data that you wish to use – you just need to provide us the context/platform you will be using and how you will be tracking this data throughout the performance period. 
- We contract with (and collaborate with) many artists to complete technical assistance projects. Would these be actually considered consultants when they are the heart of the way we deliver programming?  It depends on whether or not these artists would be recipients of award funds for consulting services and the nature of the services they are providing. We cannot determine the correct response because there is no information regarding placemaking in the question and whether or not the artists would be providing the majority of the technical assistance. 
- We are a wireless telecommunications company who has extensive experience in the North east NH, VT, ME. We have not had any federal grants, would this be a nonstarter for us., I can tell you that a 25K seed grant does not meet any type of system development.  If no one within the organization has experience administering a federal grant, then the company would not be eligible to apply. 
- Our region hasn't received a federal grant for many years, let alone administered one. This condition reinforces dominance of larger, more sophisticated, and better funded to start with institutions. Any chance of liberality on this discriminatory requirement?  The NOFA does not indicate a time requirement regarding when the federal grant administration needed to occur. However, someone within the organization would have to demonstrate that they are experienced and familiar with uniform federal grant administration principals. 
- In the multi-jurisdictional definition, do all of the jurisdictions need to be rural? Or can most of the counties, for example, be rural with one metro county in the mix based on a regional boundary?  All communities to be served must be rural - -see Part IV Section B Eligible Project: “The project must also directly benefit a rural area. All ultimate beneficiaries and/or subrecipients must be located in rural areas, and any activities or tasks must occur in rural areas. 
- Do the planning processes need to take place in the economically distressed area to get the full points in the scoring? Or is it enough if we invite participants in adjacent counties that will be impacted by the proposed project and meet the USDA definition of economically distressed? Also, the project I have in mind is with a tribe without a reservation. They, as a population, would likely be considered "economically distressed." The Tribal members, however, live dispersed across several counties. Further clarification on "economically distressed" would be appreciated.  RPIC is a placemaking initiative, therefore, a place must be identified. While consideration is given in the scoring elements to distressed and underserved communities, RPIC must serve a geographic location rather than a population. 
- We run a circuit rider planner program where we help communities develop Comprehensive Plans. Many of these plans have placemaking components. Would helping communities with comprehensive plans count under this NOFA?  First you would have to demonstrate how this help is in support of “placemaking.” Seconding how proposal “supports the delivery of technical assistance and training in visioning, planning, and assisting communities to implement placemaking efforts in rural communities.” Also, how will you be supporting the Implementation part of the RPIC requirements. 
- Is it correct that state or other federal agencies can be cooperators but not applicants?		 Federal agencies cannot apply for RPIC. A state agency may apply if they demonstrate capacity under eligibility requirements    - RPIC starts with an Applicant
  - A successful applicant gets an award – meaning they are awarded a Cooperative Agreement – they become a “Cooperator”
  - An awardee is a “Cooperator”
- Do winning proposals spend funds primarily on _planning processes_ for Placemaking plans, or for enacting key placemaking initiatives; i.e. is this grant to convene partners around shared goals, or to enact a community's already stated goals?  The NOFA stipulates: “Applicants for RPIC should be prepared to develop, be in the process of developing, or have developed a placemaking plan in partnership with public, private, or philanthropic partners with the focus on local or regional revitalization towards economic vitality and quality of life impacts. The plans should identify potential projects that can be funded through RD programs and other federal, state, local or private sector resources. Placemaking plans developed through this funding opportunity should focus on one or more of the Quality of Life indicators as defined in Part III.” 
- Do we have to have the communities solidified prior to applying? Is there penalty in points if we do not?  The communities must be identified in the proposal 
 

### **Past Recipients**

The Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge recipient list includes awardees from 2020 - 2022. Funding Opportunity Announcement

Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge Fact Sheet

Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge Fact Sheet - Español