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.
| Organization | Award Year | Contact Information | State | Service Area | Placemaking Topic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McClure Engineering Company | 2020 | 515.964.1229 | KS, IA | Atchison and Iola, KS and Sheffield, IA | Housing, Workforce, Broadband, Downtown Revitalization, Infrastructure and Transportation, Childcare |
| Pennsylvania Downtown Center | 2020 | 717.233.4675 | PA | City of New Castle, Town of Shirley, and the Boroughs of Clarion, Emlenton, Mapleton, Mt. Union and Reynoldsville | Downtown Revitalization |
| Pierce County Economic Development | 2020 | 402.329.6469 | NE | Pierce and Madison Counties | Agricultural Entrepreneurship |
| Tolani Lake Enterprises | 2020 | 928.688.6106 | AZ | City of Winslow and Navajo Nation’s Cameron Chapter in Coconino County | Tribal, Tourism |
| Winrock International | 2020 | 501.280.3090 | AR | Cities of Lonoke, England, Stuttgart, and Helena-West Helena | Tourism, Downtown Revitalization and Parks & Recreation |
| Auburn University | 2021 | 334.624.4483 | AL | Towns of Newbern, Greensboro, Moundville, and Uniontown, and Hale County | Community planning |
| Bowling Green State University | 2021 | 419.372.8710 | OH | Logan, Ashland, Union, VanWert, Williams, Lucas, Wood, Ottawa, Wyandot, Richland and Crawford Counties | Workforce Development |
| Center for Habitat Reconstruction | 2021 | 833.274.2272 | PR | La Boca, Palmas Altas, Punta Palmas, and Verdum coastal communities in the Municipality of Barceloneta, PR | Broadband and Neighborhood Revitalization |
| Communities Unlimited | 2021 | 479.443.2700 | TX | Census-designated place of McDade in Northern Bastrop County, Cities of Luling, Martindale and San Augustine, and the Town of Wortham | Broadband, Community Gardens, Neighborhood Revitalization, Recreation Economy |
| Communities Unlimited | 2022 | 479.443.2700 | MS | City of Hollandale, unincorporated community of Gore Springs in Grenada County and the Town of Coahoma | Leadership Development, Broadband, Recreation Economy, Small Business Support |
| The Conservation Fund | 2021 | 703.525.6300 | WV | City of Madison and Boone County | Recreation Economy |
| Enterprise Community Partners | 2021 | 800.624.4298 | HI | Census-designated place of Anahola on the Island of Kauai | Housing |
| Foundation for Puerto Rico | 2021 | 787.773.1100 | PR | Municipality of Naguabo | Neighborhood Revitalization, Tourism |
| Greater Applegate CDC | 2021 | 541.702.2108 | OR, CA | Jackson and Josephine Counties in OR and Siskiyou County, CA | Community Planning |
| Hawaii County | 2021 | 808.961.8729 | HI | Puna District in Hawaii County | Community Planning, Disaster Preparedness |
| Housing Assistance Council | 2021 | 202.842.8600 | MS, TN, NC, WV, OK, LA | Cities of Tupelo and Sardis, MS, City of Altamont, TN, Cities of Deko and Supply, NC, Cities of Hinton and Philippi, WV, City of Seminole, OK and the City of Tallulah, LA | Housing, Recreation Economy and Tourism |
| Kentucky Highlands Center for Development | 2021 | 606.864.5175 | KY | Bell, Clay, Harlan, Knox, Leslie, Letcher, Perry and Whitley counties | Broadband, Housing |
| MICA Group, Inc. | 2021 | 505.415.0787 | OK | Ponca Tribal Nation | Tribal |
| University of Tennessee | 2021 | TN, AL, KY | City of Clifton, and Roane, Hardin and Stewart counties in TN, cities of Bridgeport and Guntersville, and the Shoals area in AL, City of Calvert, and Paducah and McCracken counties in KY | Community Planning | |
| Building Community Workshop | 2022 | 214.252.2900 | TX | Cities of Denison and Port Lavaca, and Hidalgo County | Broadband, Housing |
| Chattanooga Area Regional Council of Governments | 2022 | 423.267.7705 | TN | Sequatchie Valley Region of Southeast Tennessee including the counties of Grundy, Bledsoe, Sequatchie, and Marion | Arts and Culture, Recreation Economy, Tourism |
| CHM, LLC dba Atlas Community Studios | 2022 | KS, MS | City of Emporia, KS and Tunica County, MS | Arts and Culture, Broadband, Housing, Recreation Economy | |
| The Conservation Fund | 2022 | 703.525.6300 | AL | Dallas, Lowndes, and Perry counties | Community Planning, Preservation of Cultural and Historic Sites |
| Grinnell College | 2022 | 641.269.3209 | IA | City of Grinnell in Poweshiek County | Community Assessment |
| Hailstone Economics, LLC | 2022 | PA | Columbia County | Broadband, Housing, Arts and Culture, and Recreation Economy | |
| Headwaters Regional Development Corporation | 2022 | 218.444.4732 | MN | Ridgeway neighborhood in the City of Bemidji | Neighborhood Revitalization |
| Ho-Chunk Nation | 2022 | 715.284.9343 | WI | Jackson County | Tribal, Broadband, Workforce Development, Telemedicine, Education |
| Mohawk Valley Economic Development District | 2022 | 315.866.4671 | NY | Mohawk Valley Region of Upstate New York including the Town of Minden, Villages of Fort Plain, Palatine Bridge and Nelliston | Tribal |
| Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham | 2022 | 205.251.8139 | AL | City of Dora and the Towns of Parrish and Nauvoo | Community Planning |
| Rural Community Assistance Corporation | 2022 | 916.447.2854 | CA, NM | Cities of Clearlake and Fort Jones, CA and the census-designated place of Mora, NM | Community Planning, Main Street Revitalization, Tourism, Housing |
| Rural Development Initiatives | 2022 | 458.215.8396 | WA | City of Othello | Community Planning |
| Rural Innovation Strategies, Inc. | 2022 | 802.436.4100 | AR, AL, VT | Pine Bluff, AR; Selma, AL; Rutland, VT | Community Planning |
| University of Georgia Research Foundation | 2022 | 706.542.5969 | GA | Milledgeville, Baldwin County, Ben Hill County, Fitzgerald, Waynesboro, Burke County | Workforce, Downtown Revitalization, tourism, Small Business Development and Entrepreneurship |
| University of Nebraska - Lincoln | 2022 | 402.472.7211 | NE | Knox County | Tourism |
| Winrock International | 2022 | 501.280.3090 | AR | Cities of Gould, Dumas, McGehee, and Dermott | E-connectivity, Tourism, Broadband |