Resource Database

The Art of the Rural: Rural Arts and Culture Resource Guide provides users an assortment toolkits, funding opportunities, rural art conference session opportunities, book suggestions, articles, reports, and blogs concerning rural community art.

Better Block Foundation is all about block parties that inspire communities for what's next. Watch a video about its process and download free design guides.

Build a Better Burb (BBB) is an online publication dedicated to improving suburban design and planning. The articles on the site highlight bold ideas for improving housing, promoting regional planning, addressing parking and creating transit-oriented development.

The Center for Rural Affairs is an advocate for health care, clean energy, sustainable agriculture, and community development in rural areas. Also offers technical assistance, financing programs, and other resources to rural communities.

The Center for Rural Entrepreneurship uses webinars, publications, and other tools to share timely information and best practices on a variety of topics related to economic development in rural communities.

The Community Tool Box is a service of the Center for Community Health and Development at the University of Kansas. The Community Tool Box offers thousands of pages of tips and tools concerning community development topics such as community assessment, planning, intervention, evaluation, and advocacy.

The USDA: Downtown Revitalization guide links to full-text handbooks, planning tools, case studies, funding resources, organizations, revitalization strategies, and more to assist a community considering a downtown revitalization project.

The Formula Grants for Rural Areas program provides capital, planning, and operating assistance to states to support public transportation in rural areas with populations of less than 50,000, where many residents often rely on public transit to reach their destinations. The program also provides funding for state and national training and technical assistance through the Rural Transportation Assistance Program. Eligible activities include planning, capital, operating, job access and reverse commute projects, and the acquisition of public transportation services.

Through strategic investments that foster job creation and attract private investment, EDA supports development in economically distressed areas of the U.S.. EDA works directly with local economic development officials to make grant investments that are well-defined, timely, and linked to a long-term, sustainable economic development strategy.

The EPA sponsors a smart growth resources page dedicated to small towns and rural community growth strategies.The page provides links to technical Assistance Programs, technical assistance reports, and webinars.