Rural Placemaking

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, visit and learn. By bringing together partners from public, private, philanthropic, community, and technology sectors, placemaking is a wrap-around approach to community and economic development that incorporates creativity, infrastructure initiatives, and vibrant public spaces.

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Rural Placemaking Toolkit & Map
Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge (RPIC)
Placemaking Events & Resources
RPIC in Pictures

Rural America Placemaking Toolkit

The Rural America Placemaking Toolkit is a dynamic, interactive, media-focused website that provides education, resources, activities, and tools on rural placemaking. This website links information seekers with technical assistance providers, funders, and how-to guides on implementing placemaking in their own communities.

Note: There are thousands of placemaking projects and activities across the country that we may be unaware of. If your community has a great example, please share it with us!

What is the Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge (RPIC)?

From 2020-2022 USDA Rural Development developed and implemented the Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge (RPIC), a competitive program that provided two-year funding to eligible applicants for placemaking planning support, technical assistance and training. We awarded $8 million in funding to 35 awardees in states from all regions of the country. Funds were used to help build capacity for broadband access, preserve cultural and historic structures, and to support the development of transportation, housing, and recreational spaces.