Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge

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.

RPIC Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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.