USDA Rural Development

FY 2022 Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge 

November 16, 2022

State Senators Recipient Cooperative 

Agreement

Project Description

AL Richard Shelby,

Tommy Tuberville

Regional Planning

Commission of Greater 

Birmingham

$250,000 This Rural Development investment will be used to coordinate outdoor recreation 

planning to develop an ecotourism target industry in the city of Dora, the town of 

Parrish and the town of Nauvoo in Walker County, Alabama. Regional Planning 

Commission of Greater Birmingham will develop Economic Development Strategic 

Plans for each target community. This project will serve each target community by 

identifying their individual strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats (SWOT) 

through a detailed survey that will evaluate ways and methods to leverage existing assets 

that may be used to grow the communities outdoor recreational economy. The Walker 

Area Community Foundation is contributing $31,500 of in-kind support. 

AR John Boozman,

Tom Cotton

Winrock International 

Institute for Agricultural 

Development

$249,386 This Rural Development investment will be used to allow the Winrock International 

Institute for Agricultural Development to implement the Arkansas Delta Rhythm and 

Bayous Placemaking Initiative (ADRBPI) project with local and multijurisdictional 

efforts to improve quality of life, rural economy, and e-Connectivity in four Delta 

communities. Through the ADRBPI project, Winrock and project partners will 

strengthen the capacity of the rural, Delta communities of Gould, Dumas, McGehee, and 

Dermott, Arkansas. ADRBPI will serve the population by deploying a tiered technical 

assistance approach to generate innovative placemaking strategies. To help execute 

these strategies, Tourism Amenity Site Plans will be developed by Crafton Tull, eConnectivity Assessments will be conducted by Connected Nation, and Innovation Seed 

Grants will be leveraged by each community. USDA Rural Development staff will play 

a substantial role throughout this project, including convening city planning meetings, 

participating in the completion of assessments, and providing technical assistance about 

programs and services that can help with the implementation of placemaking projects.

Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. 1
USDA Rural Development

FY 2022 Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge 

November 16, 2022

State Senators Recipient Cooperative 

Agreement

Project Description

AR,

MS

John Boozman

(AR),

Tom Cotton

(AR),

Cindy Hyde-Smith

(MS),

Roger Wicker

(MS)

Communities Unlimited 

Inc. ^

$250,000 This Rural Development investment will be used to identify three diverse leadership 

teams, enhance broadband access, equity and/or education in each community, identify 

vacant and abandoned properties for pocket parks and community garden enhancements, 

identify potential recreational spaces, and support small business solutions that enhance 

quality of life. This includes potential transportation options in the communities through 

technical assistance and capital. Communities Unlimited Inc. based in Arkansas will 

create capacity and sustainability in rural communities and connect them with a network 

of funding agencies. The communities of Hollandale, Gore Springs, and Coahoma 

Mississippi will benefit from this project by receiving technical assistance to develop a 

place-based plan that will serve as a guide for future development of these communities. 

CA,

NM

Dianne Feinstein

(CA),

Alex Padilla

(CA),

Ben Ray Lujan

(NM),

Martin Heinrich

(NM)

Rural Community Assistance 

Corporation ^

$227,045 This Rural Development investment will be used to provide planning support, technical 

assistance and training to the communities of Clearlake and Fort Jones in California and 

Mora, New Mexico. Rural Community Assistance Corporation's goal is to improve the 

social, physical and economic well-being of each community. The expected result of this 

project is to build the capacity of each community by planning for and implementing 

placemaking projects and providing training to community leaders and entrepreneurs to 

manage the identified projects. This project will serve the community by assessing local 

placemaking capacity and opportunities to support implementation of previously 

identified Community Economic Development priorities. This project will receive 

support from all three targeted communities. 

GA Jon Ossoff,

Raphael Warnock

University of Georgia 

Research Foundation Inc. ^

$249,980 This Rural Development investment will be used to allow the University of Georgia 

Research Foundation Inc. to utilize the Institute of Government’s Planning Rural 

Opportunities for Prosperity and Economic Leadership (PROPEL) model. The PROPEL 

model utilizes six elements (data analysis, citizen input, asset-based strategy 

development, plan implementation and support, connections with university researchers, 

impact evaluation) to help rural communities develop and implement a placemaking 

strategy based on their unique needs and goals. In addition, the PROPEL Placemaking 

Collaborative has three main objectives; build the capacity of rural community leaders 

for placemaking and community planning, develop a community placemaking strategy 

and assist communities with implementing their community placemaking plan.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. 2
USDA Rural Development

FY 2022 Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge 

November 16, 2022

State Senators Recipient Cooperative 

Agreement

Project Description

IA Joni Ernst,

Chuck Grassley

The Trustees of Grinnell 

College 

$197,153 This Rural Development investment will be used to assess community needs and 

priorities in order to create a vision for community placemaking-informing the work for 

the next decade. The Build a Better Grinnell 2030 Placemaking Planning Project will 

identify community needs and aspirations to shape and inform future work as 

community partners collaboratively strive towards a thriving Grinnell area for 2030 and 

beyond. The Trustees Grinnell College will serve the population by leveraging the 

steering committee relationships for planning and implementation activities to better 

understand community needs and serve the community in years to come. With its broad 

sector reach, the project steering committee will connect with organizations and 

individuals across the Grinnell area and establish opportunities to conduct assessments 

and identify key contacts within those organizations.

IA,

KS,

MS

Joni Ernst

(IA),

Chuck Grassley

(IA),

Roger Marshall 

(KS),

Jerry Moran

(KS), 

Cindy Hyde-Smith 

(MS),

Roger Wick

(MS)

CHM LLC ^ $250,000 This Rural Development investment will be used to develop a strategic plan and 

implement technical assistance in two rural communities located in Kansas and 

Mississippi to strengthen place-based economic development, build cross-sector 

partnerships, and improve quality of life for current and future residents. The expected 

result of this investment is to analyze broadband capacity for rural residences and 

businesses, develop strategies to improve the local housing market, develop new or 

enhanced cultural and recreational amenities, strengthen workforce development, and 

establish a peer exchange network. CHM LLC based in Iowa will assist Emporia, 

Kansas and Tunica County, Mississippi with building robust and sustainable economies 

through strategic investments in infrastructure, partnerships, and innovation. The 

Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas has committed $40,000 to 

this project and an organization called Visit Emporia has committed $5,000 for the seed 

grant.

KY Mitch McConnell, 

Rand Paul

Partners for Rural Impact 

Inc.*

$160,000 This Rural Development investment will be used to increase community eConnectivity 

rates in Appalachian Kentucky with a focus on the eight counties that are part of the 

Rural Partners Network – the Kentucky Highlands Community Network. Partners for 

Rural Impact Inc. recognizes that broadband access is an essential lever in working to 

improve educational outcomes in Appalachian Kentucky. Their experience shows that 

libraries are a gathering place for residents of the communities and a trusted purveyor of 

resources and support to families. Rural libraries have influence and the access to 

residents needed to increase eConnectivity rates. This project will provide technical 

assistance and support to rural libraries and strengthen their capacity to align with the 

individual community’s plan for broadband.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. 3
USDA Rural Development

FY 2022 Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge 

November 16, 2022

State Senators Recipient Cooperative 

Agreement

Project Description

MN Amy Klobuchar,

Tina Smith

Headwaters Regional 

Development Commission

$206,113 This Rural Development investment will be used to develop a plan that will address 

quality of life issues in Bemidji, Minnesota’s Ridgeway Neighborhood. The expected 

result of this project is neighborhood revitalization through community engagement and 

multi-sectoral and multi-jurisdictional partnerships. Headwaters Regional Development 

Commission will serve the community by providing opportunities and resources to 

create a web of support services which will increase individual and community 

resilience and empower neighborhood residents. The United Way of Bemidji Area is 

contributing $11,700 of in-kind support, the Rotary Neighborhood Project is 

contributing $5,000 of in-kind support, Beltrami County Public Health will provide $19, 

344 of in-kind support and the Minnesota Department of Transportation will provide 

$2,843 of in-kind support. 

MS Cindy Hyde-Smith, 

Roger Wicker

Mississippi Main Street 

Association Inc.*

$250,000 This Rural Development investment will be used to help Mississippi Main Street 

Association Inc. assemble a team of planning, design, and economic development 

professionals to create and implement innovative placemaking plans for 11 rural 

communities across the state of Mississippi. Each community will participate in a twoday community engagement process, during which the planning team will collaborate 

with community leaders, stakeholders, and city officials to develop a unique, communityspecific, and strategic placemaking plan that will provide the rural communities with 

strategies designed to enhance existing assets to improve the quality of life and living 

for residents and visitors. Project plans will focus on the following placemaking themes: 

enhancing capacity for broadband access, preserving cultural and historic structures, 

increasing economic activity, and supporting the development of vibrant, recreational 

public spaces.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. 4
USDA Rural Development

FY 2022 Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge 

November 16, 2022

State Senators Recipient Cooperative 

Agreement

Project Description

NE Deb Fischer,

Ben Sasse

Board of Regents of the 

University of Nebraska

$247,938 This Rural Development investment will be used to provide the Board of Regents of the 

University of Nebraska with the necessary technical and financial assistance to create an 

actionable placemaking plan for the Knox County, Nebraska area. The proposed project 

will create an actionable placemaking plan through asset and infrastructure mapping, 

strategic planning, and capacity building. This community and economic development 

effort will focus on tourism, recreation, and planning technical assistance for the Knox 

County area communities, assisting in COVID-19 economic recovery, and capitalizing 

upon recent regional investments in recreation and broadband infrastructure. The 

population will be served by this project through the development of a place-based plan 

that will define the tourism strategy for the region and county, analyze tourism assets 

and supporting infrastructure, create detailed narrative about opportunities in the region, 

communities will be trained for placemaking implementation, and communities will 

have identified USDA grants to target identified projects. Matching funds are being 

provided by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the amount of $42,191 and Knox 

County Economic Development will provide $5,000 for seed grant support.

NY Kirstin Gillibrand,

Charles Schumer

Mohawk Valley Economic 

Development District Inc.

$173,033 This Rural Development investment will be used to develop a strategic plan to identify 

implementable placemaking projects in four target communities in the Mohawk Valley 

Region of upstate New York. Mohawk Valley Economic Development District Inc. will 

help solve problems, create effective new projects and strategic plans, and build more 

creative and equitable places to live, work, and play in the town of Minden, village of 

Fort Plain, village of Palatine Bridge and the village of Nelliston. This project will serve 

the community by creating a placemaking plan to identify and prioritize regionally 

significant projects. The project is receiving $35,544 of in-kind support from partners 

and target communities. 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. 5
USDA Rural Development

FY 2022 Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge 

November 16, 2022

State Senators Recipient Cooperative 

Agreement

Project Description

OR,

WA

Jeff Merkley

(OR),

Ron Wyden

(OR),

Maria Cantwell

(WA),

Patty Murray

(WA)

Rural Development Initiatives 

Inc.

$250,000 This Rural Development investment will be used to plan and implement a Placemaking 

Learning Tour and Mentor Match entrepreneurship training for Latinx and youth 

populations in Othello, Washington. Rural Development Initiatives Inc. will develop an 

understanding of successfully implemented placemaking projects, innovative broadband 

activities and ag-tech models of thriving food and agriculture-based economies in 

Northwest Washington. This project will serve the community by developing a plan and 

curriculum on becoming a food business mecca to support local small businesses and to 

foster a food related community gathering space. The Avista Corporation will contribute 

$12,500, the Innovia Foundation will contribute $12,500 and the Columbia Bank will 

contribute $750 to the project. The City of Othello will contribute $10,020 of in-kind 

support and the Adams County Development Council will contribute $10,000 of in-kind 

support. 

PA Robert Casey,

Patrick Toomey

Hailstone Economic LLC $250,000 This Rural Development investment will be used to create a written placemaking plan 

that will be used as the outline/roadmap for Columbia County. Hailstone Economic LLC 

will implement and fund projects identified in the plan. This project will invite 

coordination between municipalities and identify assets that the county can use to 

promote arts and culture while also creating pedestrian and bike friendly intersections 

within communities. Community Solutions Group and Commonwealth University 

contributed $18,700 and $23,650 in in-kind services, respectively. 

TN Marsha Blackburn,

Bill Hagerty

Chattanooga Area Regional 

Council of Governments 

$250,000 This Rural Development Investment will be used to develop a place-based plan that will 

implement coordination of a regional placemaking and tourism development program by 

developing and marketing public arts, heritage tourism and outdoor recreation 

development in four counties. The region served includes Sequatchie Valley Region of 

Southeast Tennessee (Grundy County, Bledsoe County, Sequatchie County, and Marion 

County, TN). Chattanooga Area Regional Council of Governments will implement the 

coordination of a regional placemaking and tourism development program, within the 

Sequatchie Valley, by developing and marketing public arts, heritage tourism, and 

outdoor recreation development in their region. The Southeast Tennessee Development 

District is contributing $45,000 to this project.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. 6
USDA Rural Development

FY 2022 Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge 

November 16, 2022

State Senators Recipient Cooperative 

Agreement

Project Description

TX John Cornyn,

Ted Cruz

Building Community 

Workshop

$249,980 This Rural Development investment will be used to develop a plan that will address 

housing issues in Denison, Port Lavaca, and Hidalgo Counties in Texas. The expected 

result of this project is to build capacity among three rural Texas counties that are facing 

challenges in bringing affordable housing to their communities. This project will help 

Building Community Workshop develop a housing guide for each county and provide 

support in understanding the needs, challenges, and opportunities as they relate to 

broadband access in each county. The Come Dream Come Build organization is 

contributing $35,000 and City of Port Lavaca, Texas is contributing $5,000 of in-kind 

support.

VA,

AL

Tim Kaine

(VA),

Mark Warner

(VA),

Richard Shelby

(AL),

Tommy Tuberville

(AL)

The Conservation Fund a 

Nonprofit Corp

$202,396 This Rural Development investment will be used to convene a coalition of diverse 

partners and stakeholders to craft a Placemaking Plan that: 1) identifies and prioritizes 

the protection of multiple at-risk Civil Rights and Black History sites in the Black Belt 

region of central Alabama; 2) outlines the community’s goals and actionable strategies 

for maximizing these community-based assets to support greater social and cultural 

vitality for these rural communities; and 3) builds the coalition of partners and 

momentum needed to advance the plans goals and objectives. The Conservation Fund, a 

nonprofit corporation will serve the population by providing planning, technical 

assistance, and capacity building support for stakeholders working across Dallas, 

Lowndes, and Perry counties to advance placemaking goals that center the African 

American experience and drive sustainable economic development opportunities for all.

VT,

AR,

AL

Patrick Leahy

(VT),

Bernard Sanders

(VT),

John Boozman

(AR),

Tom Cotton

(AR),

Richard Shelby

(AL),

Tommy Tuberville

(AL)

Rural Innovation Strategies 

Inc.

$247,864 This Rural Development investment will be used to provide the capacity and resources 

for Rural Innovation Strategies Inc. to partner with local leaders in Selma, Alabama, 

Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and Rutland, Vermont to develop Placemaking Plans centered on 

tech innovation hubs. The expected result of this project is to lay the groundwork for 

equitable, sustainable, and thriving live-work-play ecosystems that can support scalable 

tech entrepreneurship with the necessary foundational elements, by centering tech 

innovation hubs in the Placemaking Plans. The project will serve the population by 

implementing a community-centered and equitable process that will help communities 

recover from the economic shocks of the pandemic through three key objectives: 

strategic placemaking planning promotion of access and equity and development of 

cross-sectoral partnerships.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. 7
USDA Rural Development

FY 2022 Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge 

November 16, 2022

State Senators Recipient Cooperative 

Agreement

Project Description

WI Tammy Baldwin,

Ron Johnson

Ho-Chunk Nation $249,112 This Rural Development investment will be used to develop a plan to enhance the 

capacity of broadband connectivity in Jackson County, Wisconsin. Ho-Chunk Nation 

will improve virtual education, remote job accessibility and telemedicine. This project 

will serve the community by designing placemaking activities that will address the need 

for delivery of broadband services. The Ho-Chunk Nation Department of Business is 

contributing $37,500 to the project. 

* Project is serving a Rural Partners Network's community and has received other authorized agency funding.

^ Project is serving a Rural Partners Network's community and has received funding through RPIC. 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. 8