Placemaking
Uplifting the Voices of Community Members
Placemaking is often associated with arts and culture. The multi-faceted approach is a strategy to uplift the voices of community members by improving downtown spaces, incorporating art into buildings and infrastructure and hosting events that highlight a community’s uniqueness. The Blue Ribbon Commission’s Report acknowledges the desire for communities to have more funding designated towards arts, culture, and placemaking efforts.
Success Stories
Cuba City is a thriving agricultural and business community in southwest Wisconsin, and a neighbor to Platteville and Dubuque—but one thing the city of 2,000 had lacked was a place for people to gather downtown, to visit with each other over a cup of coffee, to play cards or to hold community events.
Annie Coleman had dreamed for years about opening a retreat center in rural Wisconsin—a place in the heart of nature where people could gather and spend a weekend relaxing, eating locally produced food, and letting their creativity flow.
Community leaders in Lancaster, in Wisconsin’s southwest corner, began to worry about the city’s economy. They noticed jobs sitting vacant, stagnant school enrollment, an aging population, and a lack of affordable housing.
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Whether you’re looking to grow your business, improve local infrastructure, or strengthen your community’s leadership, our team is here to provide the guidance and resources needed to succeed. By working together, we can ensure that rural Wisconsin continues to thrive and remains a vibrant, dynamic place to live and work. Let’s collaborate to build a prosperous future for all.
Support Organizations
Wisconsin Rural Partners, Inc. (WRP) serves as a network hub for organizations, government agencies and people working to make rural Wisconsin a better place.
The Community Economic Development program supports community economic development practitioners and organizations, tribal and governmental entities, and business and nonprofit organizations and help gain access to the information, research, education, and technical assistance necessary to make informed decisions.
As Wisconsin’s leading (and only) independent community cultural development organization, Create Wisconsin is a catalyst and coalition activating and strengthening Wisconsin as a creative powerhouse locally and globally.
The Aspen Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the greatest challenges of our time.
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence.
Wisconsin Humanities strengthens our democracy through educational and cultural programs that build connections and understanding among people of all backgrounds and beliefs throughout the state.
The Association of Wisconsin Regional Planning Commissions (AWRPC) is a voluntary association of the nine regional planning commissions in the State of Wisconsin.
News
An initiative from the Office of Rural Prosperity that provides a way for rural and tribal communities to bring together local leadership, set common goals in a neutral and facilitated structure, and access resources that will help them act on those goals.
In 2023, WEDC launched the Vibrant Spaces Grant as a pilot program to provide matching funds to communities looking to implement placemaking projects.
