Midwest Placemaking
Innovation Accelerator
A USDA RPIC Plan
About the Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge
In 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) launched the Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge (RPIC) to provide technical assistance and planning support to foster placemaking and spur economic development in rural communities.
USDA RD selected five technical assistance providers from across the country to assist identified communities with preserving cultural and historic structures, enhancing capacity for broadband access, and supporting in the development of transportation, housing and recreational spaces, among other things.
Read more about the technical assistance providers in USDA’s Stakeholder Announcement.
About the Midwest Placemaking Innovation Accelerator
In collaboration with USDA RD, Atlas Community Studios and McClure have partnered to launch the Midwest Placemaking Innovation Accelerator to develop placemaking action plans and provide implementation technical assistance to three rural communities, including:
- Allen County, Kansas
- Atchison, Kansas
- Sheffield, Iowa
Host visioning sessions for the steering committee and public, facilitate focus groups and one-on-one interviews with key stakeholders, and solicit feedback via online survey(s).
Compile and analyze quantitative and qualitative data, determine emerging themes, identify potential project concepts, and assess the viability of priority projects/initiatives.
Define priority projects/initiatives, identify key partners, determine programming, estimate capital and short-term operating costs, and curate a list of public and private funding sources to consider for implementation.
Prioritize projects/initiatives, identify fundraising coordinator(s), build cross-sector partnerships, identify implementation committee members, determine viable funding opportunities to implement priority projects/initiatives, and establish a timeline to execute.
Allen County, Kansas
Allen County’s placemaking action plan focuses on three key priorities:
- Housing
- Economic Development
- Key Building Revitalization (“Thrive Annex Building”)
Atchison, Kansas
Atchison’s placemaking action plan focuses on three key priorities:
- Housing
- Economic Development
- Downtown Revitalization
Sheffield, Iowa
Allen County’s placemaking action plan focuses on three key priorities:
- Housing
- Economic Development
- Key Building Revitalization (“Thrive Annex Building”)
About Atlas Community Studios
Atlas Community Studios (“Atlas”) is a small, woman and minority-owned firm fueled by creative problem-solvers and capacity-builders committed to advancing the economic prosperity of communities across the country. Leveraging more than 65 years of combined experience spanning both the public and private sectors, the Atlas team specializes in strategic planning, economic development, community engagement, funding strategies, and creative placemaking. The project team’s portfolio of work includes over 65 action-oriented plans and technical assistance provided in communities across 24 states and one Canadian province.