Featured speakers include:

• Ferd Hoefner, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
• Bahia Nightengale, Heartland Local Food, with Supervisor Melvyn Houser, Pottawattamie County, Iowa
• Elanor Starmer, USDA

Register for the webinar here.

This webinar is offered as a service to grantees of the federal government’s Sustainable Communities Initiative, NADO members, NACo members, and the broad community of individuals and organizations interested in regional food systems as a strategy for rural economic development.

For more information, contact Stephanie Osborn, sosborn@naco.org or 202.942.4235.

The Request for Proposals is on the new CIRD website: www.rural-design.org. The deadline for submitting a proposal is Tuesday March 5, 2013. CIRD will offer three free application-assistance calls to answer questions and guide interested applicants in assembling their proposals on January 23, February 7, and February 28. For more details and to register, visit www.rural-design.org/application-assistance.

On November 13, 2012, the National Association of Counties (NACo) presented a webinar in partnership with NADO Research Foundation that discussed strategies to engage elected officials and other community leaders in community planning projects. This webinar featured innovative strategies from regional planning projects and a “clinic” to critique outreach materials submitted by a select number of HUD 2010/2011 sustainability grants recipients.  Speakers included Elisa Ortiz, Smart Growth America; Bethany Wilcoxon, Des Moines Area MPO (Iowa); and Carol Davis, New River Valley Planning District Commission (Virginia).

View the webinar recording here. For more information, contact Cindy Wasser at NACo at cwasser@naco.org or 202.942.4274.

~~~

This webinar was produced by NACo, through a subcontract agreement with NADO Research Foundation. NADO Research Foundation provided overall guidance and project direction. The work that provided the basis for this webinar was supported by funding under an award with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The substance and findings of the work are dedicated to the public. The author and publisher are solely responsible for the accuracy of the statements and interpretations contained in this publication. Such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government.

The three new briefing papers showcase how a number of small communities are tackling sustainability and smart growth through asset based economic development.

Pella, Iowa has a thriving downtown with many locally owned businesses. The local businesses are supported by both the local manufacturing and tourism industries. The downtown design guidelines emphasize the city’s Dutch heritage. Photo courtesy of the city of Pella.

The first paper starts off by defining asset-based economic development and provides several case studies on industry and industrial clusters, including the city of Pella, Iowa. If that name sounds familiar it may be because you have Pella windows or doors in your home keeping the warmth in and cold out.  There are other industries that help keep this small town manufacturing cluster alive and well, and as the case study in the brieing paper notes, there is a strong public-private partnership effort to recruit and develop sectors and industries that are compatible with the community’s economic strengths.  Other communities in Colorado and Arkansas are also profiled in this first paper. Read it here.

The second briefing paper looks at natural resource strengths and working landscapes, which often provide the basis for rural economic activities.  In this paper, a case study of Killington, Vermont showcases how one community has focused its efforts to strengthen and sustainably grow its economic base, largely around tourism and recreational amenities.  Importantly, while many on the east coast think of Killington as a winter resort area, the community has worked hard to showcase Killington as a four-seasons community with outdoor, cultural and recreational amenities year round. Read it here.

Part three looks more closely at historic and cultural resources as well as existing infrastructure such as Main Streets and town squares.   Silver City, New Mexico and Lindsborg, Kansas are profiled more closely in this paper providing lessons learned for other communities considering how to benefit from their existing infrastructure and historic and cultural amenities. Read it here.

You can also access all three papers, and learn more about ICMA’s work on sustainability and smart growth issues, on ICMA’s sustainability topic page.

~~~

This report was researched and written by ICMA, through a subcontract agreement with NADO Research Foundation. NADO Research Foundation provided overall guidance and project direction. The work that provided the basis for this publication was supported by funding under an award with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The substance and findings of the work are dedicated to the public. The author and publisher are solely responsible for the accuracy of the statements and interpretations contained in this publication. Such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government. For more information, contact Tad McGalliard at ICMA at tmcgalliard@ICMA.org

Who should attend: Government officials, planners, developers, investors, nonprofits, and others interested in transit-oriented development.

• Read about the city of Moline’s efforts to transform an old warehouse into the Moline Multimodal Station and the city of Cincinnati’s Streetcar Project in the 2012 Partnership for Sustainable Communities accomplishments report.
• View a video about sustainability efforts in Moline at http://www.sustainablecommunities.gov/studies.html#FC9.
• Learn more about the Partnership for Sustainable Communities.

Webinar Details

Thursday, November 15, 2012, 1:00 to 2:15 Eastern

• To join this webinar, click on https://epa.connectsolutions.com/epasmartgrowth. Log in as a guest. No pre-registration is required.
• Audio will be available through a conference service. Call 1-888-850-4523. Participant passcode: 719661. This conference has a maximum audio capacity of 299 callers. Please share phone lines if possible.
• Please test your computer prior to attending the meeting at http://admin.adobeconnect.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm
  • The Connection Test checks your computer to make sure all system requirements are met. If you pass the first three steps of the test, then you are ready to participate in a meeting.
  • If you do not pass the test, perform the suggested actions and run the test again.

Five years ago if you took a stroll down Main Street in Greenville, Kentucky on a Saturday night you would have likely walked on deteriorated sidewalks, peered into vacant storefronts with dilapidated façades, and felt enveloped by silence and darkness.  Like many other small towns throughout the United States, Greenville’s downtown had slowly deteriorated as development and investments were directed elsewhere.

However, thanks to a forward-thinking mayor, a proactive tourist commission, an involved local community, and a supportive area development district, that same walk down Main Street today looks and feels very different.  In this town of 4,300, as many as 8,000 people have been known to fill the streets of Greenville on a weekend night in the summertime to enjoy live outdoor music, find something to eat at a variety of food stands set up by local establishments, and enjoy each other’s company.  Previously vacant buildings are now abuzz with activity, many now home to new retail stores and restaurants.  A mature woodland area off the downtown area has been preserved as a 12-acre nature park, complete with trails, bridges, and a manmade waterfall.  Sidewalks have been built and repaired, historic-looking street lights now shine down on the streets below, planters and trash receptacles have been installed, and engraved brick pavers line new curbs.  Residents in the region no longer think of Greenville merely as a lazy county seat with a historic courthouse, but rather as an economic and entertainment focal point in Muhlenberg County.

A citizen-supported restaurant and hotel tax established a Tourism Commission which has financed downtown façade improvements as well as free festivals and concerts, including the popular summer music series, “Saturdays on the Square.” (Photo Courtesy of Greenville photographer Amy Hourigan)

This positive change in Greenville was neither an accident nor left to chance; rather, it was the result of a small community with a vision for how to build on its local assets and infrastructure, seek innovative financing, and cultivate partnerships in a challenging economic environment.  This southwestern Kentucky town’s revival can serve as a model for other small communities throughout the country working to revive their historic downtowns and Main Streets.

Progressive Leadership and Active Partnerships

In 2006 at the urging of many of Greenville’s citizens, Eddie DeArmond ran for city mayor.  A retired state policeman, DeArmond won the race and took office in 2007 where he set in motion a major effort to redevelop the downtown business district and the surrounding areas.  “The mayor had a vision to make a difference in Greenville and leave the town better than when he found it,” says Ben Van Hooser, the city administrator tapped by DeArmond for the position.  “The downtown and other parts of the community had been deteriorating.  We wanted to breathe new life into the city.”

Sidewalks have been upgraded and now feature brick pavers and historic-looking streetlamps, not only improving pedestrian access and safety downtown, but also creating a distinct sense of place. (Photo courtesy of the City of Greenville)

Soon after taking office, Mayor DeArmond and City Administrator Van Hooser began a vigorous push to seek funding opportunities for streetscape and façade improvements along three blocks of Greenville’s Main Street.  With the support of City Council, they tackled the project by embracing the Mayor’s bold motto which is printed on a banner hanging in City Hall: “Don’t tell me why we can’t do it.  Just tell me how!”  Looking for support, Van Hooser reached out to Jason Vincent at the Pennyrile Area Development District (PADD), western Kentucky’s regional planning and development organization that serves nine counties and 33 cities.  Vincent, at the time a grant writer and today PADD’s assistant director, was excited about the prospect of collaborating with Van Hooser and Mayor DeArmond, whom Vincent regarded as a “progressive mayor who recognized the downtown area as the lifeblood of the community and had idea after idea about how things could be improved.”

PADD has worked with the city in seeking funding opportunities, preparing grant applications, and assisting with procurement activities.  “PADD helped guide and direct us in our efforts, particularly in how to make our grant applications stand out to someone who would be looking at a few hundred or so of them,” says Van Hooser.  Over the past five years, over $1.6 million has been raised to fund local redevelopment, streetscape, and recreational improvements.  This money came from grants such as Kentucky’s Transportation Enhancement Program, the Safe Routes to School Program, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, revenue raised by the local Tourism Commission, and even donations from hometown residents.

Façades, Festivals, and Footpaths

Supported by the city and the Tourism Commission, downtown business owners and volunteer residents worked together to paint and restore around 15 storefront façades through the “Let’s Paint the Town” initiative. (Photo courtesy of the City of Greenville)

Since redevelopment began, nine new businesses have located to the downtown area – many into previously vacant buildings – creating new jobs and instilling a sense of community pride.  These businesses include two new restaurants, two gift shops, a women’s apparel store, and a costume/accessories shop.

By investing in downtown through streetscape improvements and increased pedestrian access, the city has made Greenville an attractive place for entrepreneurs to open new businesses.  The city and the Tourism Commission (discussed further below) launched a “Let’s Paint the Town” initiative which joined business owners and volunteer citizens to paint building façades and restore many to their original colors and designs.  Around 15 buildings were given a facelift through painting and façade restoration, including one where mid-century hand painted signs were discovered and restored after vinyl siding was removed.  Other projects have included renovating the historic theatre’s marquee with neon and running lights, constructing new welcome signs entering the city, and installing outdoor speakers on downtown lights that play non-stop music from Sirius XM radio. 

Early in the redevelopment process, DeArmond and Van Hooser met with staff from the Kentucky League of Cities who encouraged the city to implement a restaurant and hotel tax that would fund a Tourism Commission to sponsor downtown events and activities.  A full-page ad was placed in the local newspaper with the headline “City of Greenville Seeks Your Support” and explained that the money would be used for festivals, sporting events, theatre productions, welcome signs, and other improvements.  The ad urged residents to support the tax, stating that it would “bring ‘life and business’ back to the downtown and will benefit all the citizens of Greenville.”  The tax was passed with zero opposition as the community rallied behind it to raise additional revenue.  It has brought in around $275,000 a year and has funded a variety of activities and events such as the “Let’s Paint the Town” program, the “Squash and Gobble” fall arts festival, and the popular “Saturdays on the Square” free summer music series which features live bands playing a variety of genres of music Saturday nights on the brick plaza in front of the town’s newly restored courthouse, originally built in 1907.

Greenville’s 12-acre nature park consists of a graveled trail, footbridges, birdfeeders, picnic tables, and a manmade waterfall and running stream, pictured here. The park has attracted many visitors from Greenville and throughout the region. (Photo Courtesy of Greenville photographer Amy Hourigan)

The changes taking place in Greenville have not only been accomplished using brick, cement, and paint.  While other projects were underway, a resident came to the city with the idea of establishing a nature park just two blocks from the downtown area near the elementary and middle schools.  When the city reached out to local landowners to acquire their land, three donated their properties to the city on the condition the land would be used for the park, while two others sold it at market value.  A combination of local donations from residents and grants from the Recreational Trails program and the Land and Water Conservation Fund have provided the finances to create what is now known as the Brizendine Brothers Nature Park.  This 12-acre wooded area consists of a half-mile graveled trail, three footbridges that run over 200 feet, birdfeeders, picnic tables, a four-foot manmade waterfall, and 150-foot running stream.  Deer, turkeys, raccoons, squirrels, birds, and other animals have been spotted in the area.  The park has attracted visitors not only from Greenville but from throughout the region, providing an economic boost to the city and county.

Despite the success achieved in Greenville, maintaining momentum has not been without its challenges, especially related to the general fund in this tough economy.  Additionally, over the past five years Greenville has experienced three federally declared disasters, including a deadly tornado, a debilitating ice storm, and damaging winds from Hurricane Ike.  In spite of these challenges, the local leadership and residents of Greenville continue to remain focused and resolute on creating a brighter future.

An Inspiration for Other Small Towns

While every town and city is unique with its own assets and challenges, Mayor DeArmond and City Administrator Van Hooser believe that the success achieved in Greenville can be replicated in other communities that have the vision and willpower to make positive changes.  They have shared their city’s story with other leaders, city councils, and citizens throughout Kentucky at best practices seminars and workshops.  “Our success is the result of a strong, progressive mayor working with a citizenry that was anxious to see deterioration turned around.  That, along with the support of the Tourism Commission and Pennyrile Area Development District, has led to success here in Greenville,” says Van Hooser.  Jason Vincent at PADD agrees:  “This town did the right things, at the right time, and in the right way.  It really came down to strong local leadership that sought community buy-in and support which has made a huge difference.”

~~

This case study was researched and written by Brett Schwartz, NADO Research Fellow.  Preliminary research was provided by Parrish Bergquist.

~~

This is part of the NADO Research Foundation’s Vibrant Rural Communities series of case studies, which describes how rural regions and small towns across the country are growing local and regional economies and creating stronger communities. This series shows how communities can leverage a wide range of tools and resources to build on their assets, protect their resources, and make strategic investments that offer long-term benefits.

This project is based in part upon work supported by the Federal Highway Administration under Agreement No. DTFH61-10-C-00047. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of FHWA or the NADO Research Foundation.

Headquartered in Washington, DC, NADO provides advocacy, education, research, and training for the nation’s 520 regional development organizations. The association and its members promote regional strategies, partnerships, and solutions to strengthen the economic competitiveness and quality of life across America’s local communities.

“Joe brings an exceptional set of skills and talents to NADO. Under his tenure at Land-of-Sky Regional Council, he showed time and again that strong leadership, innovative thinking, and diverse partnerships are critical to the success of regional development organizations. His background will serve him well at the helm of NADO,” said NADO Immediate Past President Russ Cowley, Executive Director of the Six County Association of Governments in Richfield, Utah.

NADO President John Leonard, Executive Director of the Southern Georgia Regional Commission in Valdosta, agreed. “Joe’s energy and excitement is contagious. I am confident that under his leadership, NADO will grow to new heights in the coming years.”

McKinney has twenty-one years of experience in local and regional government, having served in city, county, and regional government management since 1991. He had served as Executive Director of Land-of-Sky Regional Council since January 2003. Under his leadership, Land-of-Sky has been recognized nationally for its innovation and program expansion in areas such as planning and economic development, workforce development, transportation and transit, aging services, volunteer services, and geographic information systems.

Prior to his time at Land-of-Sky Regional Council, McKinney served as Executive Director of Eastern Carolina Council of Governments. He also has served as a County Manager for Mitchell County and Town Manager for the Town of Spruce Pine, both in North Carolina, and County Administrator for Chesterfield County, South Carolina. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Public Policy Analysis from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a candidate for a Masters Degree in Public Administration from UNC-Chapel Hill.

Upon his appointment, McKinney stated, “It is an honor to accept this appointment. NADO has been a critical resource over the years and I am thrilled to be taking this new role. I look forward to working with NADO’s membership and staff to build upon the organization’s strong history of supporting regional strategies and partnerships to improve quality of life across America’s regions and communities.”

Joe is married to Melanie McKinney and they have five children. He assumed the executive director role on October 29.

Our Town will invest in creative and innovative projects in which communities, together with their arts and design organizations and artists, seek to:

• Improve their quality of life;
• Encourage greater creative activity;
• Foster stronger community identity and a sense of place; and
• Revitalize economic development.

Other key information:

• Complete Our Town application guidelines are available at arts.gov/grants/apply/OurTown/index.html
• Application deadline is January 14, 2013 at 11:59 pm. This deadline is earlier than last year.
• Program Inquiries: Email OT@arts.gov to schedule a call with an NEA design program specialist
• For Our Town FAQs, go to arts.gov/grants/apply/OurTown/FAQ.html
• Webinars to learn more about this funding opportunity will be held on November 6 and 13, 2012 at 3:00 pm EST at arts.gov

Projects may include arts engagement, cultural planning, and design activities. Definitions of these activities can be found in the FY 2012 Our Town grant announcement.

Now in its third year, Our Town has provided $11.57 million to fund 131 projects in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.  Those projects are diverse in geographic distribution, number and types of partnerships, artistic discipline, and type of project. As regards population size, in FY 2012 alone, 41 of the 80 grants supported projects in communities with populations under 50,000.

To view a map of these projects along with descriptions and images, visit the Our Town section of the NEA website.

Our Town grant examples in rural communities:

The Yadkin/Pee Dee Lakes Project  (Central Park and Star, NC, $50,000)
Central Park NC and the Town of Star partnered again on an Our Town grant related to the creation and promotion of a glass arts community in Star. Project activities include planning and development of a new annual FireFest event, an annual glass public sculpture competition, and development of multimedia promotional materials for the community including video, social media, wayfinding signage, and downloadable print materials.

Wormfarm Institute (Reedsburg, WI, $50,000)
Wormfarm’s Our Town grant will support the planning, pilot, and evaluation of Farm/Art D-Tour. These guided and self-led tours will take place primarily along rural roads in northern Sauk County, Wisconsin, and will feature farm-based ephemeral art installations and performances; mobile farm stands designed and built by artists; and interpretative signage about rural culture and the local arts, food, and farming communities.

Program inquiries: Email OT@arts.gov to schedule a call with an NEA design program specialist.

Click on the links below to download workshop presentations and other resources:

Agenda and Participant Information

Framing the Issue: Positioning Smaller Communities for a Prosperous Future (Joseph Minicozzi, AICP, Urban3, LLC):
Part 1 and Part 2
Rural regions and small towns that coordinate long-term economic development strategies with local land use decisions and infrastructure investments can benefit from greater financial returns and improved quality of life. Joe Minicozzi will present research that quantifies the economic impacts of coordinated investments and policymaking in communities around the country.

5 x 5: Grantee Success Stories: Each grantee team described a key project success in a fast-paced series of short presentations (five minutes/five slides per team).

Growing Community through Partnerships: the Community as Expert (Paul Dreher, Livability Solutions): Tools to connect planning, placemaking, and economic development in small town settings.

Communications Clinic: Engaging Stakeholders and Champions to Articulate Values (Elisa Ortiz, Smart Growth America): Interactive training to help participants build and activate relationships with key community partners, identify shared community values and craft a clear, unique message, guided by hands-on exercises and facilitated discussions.

Handouts/Worksheets:

• Identifying and Engaging Stakeholders
• Stakeholder and Champion Engagement Worksheet
• Values Laddering Worksheet
• Values Messaging Worksheet

Without Smoke & Mirrors: Finding the Magic in E-logic Models & Performance Measures (Stacey Stockdill, EnSearch): Tools and strategies to help rural stakeholders choose and measure indicators to track program effectiveness and ensure positive community outcomes.

Creating and Retaining Wealth: New Ways of Approaching Economic Development in Rural and Small Metro Communities (Melissa Levy, Yellow Wood Associates): Interactive demonstration of tools designed to help practitioners identify and measure the impacts of project and policy actions on different forms of community wealth.

Handouts/Worksheets:

• Seven Forms of Wealth Continuum
• Community Wealth Matrix
• Seven Forms of Wealth Worksheet

For more information about NADO’s sustainable communities capacity building program, contact Kathy Nothstine at knothstine [at] nado.org.

AICP members can earn 1.5 Certification Maintenance credits for this activity.

To join the webinar, visit here: https://epa.connectsolutions.com/epasmartgrowth
No pre-registration is required. Call 1-888-850-4523. Participant passcode: 719661. This conference has a maximum audio capacity of 290 callers, so participants may wish to share lines. For more details, visit http://www.epa.gov/dced/webinars/index.html.

To learn more about opportunities like this, join EPA’s Smart Growth Listserv here: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opei/opeipub.nsf/Membership.