Citizens' Institute on Rural Design™ Announces 2014 Awards

The Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design™ (CIRD) has announced the four organizations selected to host the 2014-2015 rural design technical assistance workshops. CIRD workshops bring together local leaders, non-profits, community organizations, and citizens with a team of specialists in design, planning, community and economic development, and creative placemaking to address design challenges identified by the host community.

Out of 48 applicants, this year's workshop host communities are:

• Carl Small Town Center: Houston Community, Mississippi
• Oregon County Food Producers and Artisans Co-Op: Oregon County, Missouri
• Lincoln and Lancaster County Planning Department: Lancaster County, Nebraska
• University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension (UNHCE): Franklin, New Hampshire

The CIRD will give the winners US$7,000 to support the workshop, $35,000 for relevant design expertise and technical assistance, as well as additional training via webinars, conference calls, and web-based resources.

Carl Small Town Center: Houston Community, Mississippi: "The community of Houston, Mississippi (pop. 3,562) will work with the Carl Small Town Center to generate a design for a cycling/pedestrian connection leading from their newest attraction -- the Tanglefoot Trail -- to the Natchez Trace Parkway, a 444-mile scenic drive and major destination for cyclists, to downtown Houston located seven miles away."

Oregon County Food Producers and Artisans Co-Op: Oregon County, Missouri: "The workshop in Oregon County, Missouri (pop. 10,997 ) will guide the renovation of one (in a series of) vacant buildings located on the town square in to a multi-destination market and community center to serve as an economic incubator for artists and food producers in the county."

Lincoln and Lancaster County Planning Department: Lancaster County, Nebraska: "Lancaster County, Nebraska will host a region-wide workshop gathering residents and leaders together from 12 rural villages (total pop. 7,967) to create a toolbox of design techniques and resources to help recapture their sense of place."

University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension (UNHCE): Franklin, New Hampshire: "Franklin, New Hampshire's (pop. 8,456) workshop will address how to revitalize the downtown in keeping with the goals of ensuring affordable housing options and age-friendly design for senior citizens statewide."