Small Community Technical Assistance
East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (ECWRPC) is using a creative method to plan with small communities in their region. SPARC, Strategic Planning and Revitalization for Communities, is a small community technical assistance program that combines visioning workshops, design consultation, and grant assistance to help communities move projects forward. Since 2021, ECWRPC has served 17 rural Wisconsin communities, generating tangible outcomes like downtown revitalization and infrastructure improvements while building local capacity. The program’s process can be adapted by other regional organizations who are interested in being more involved with site-specific city projects. This report provides insight into the SPARC process, from application to project selection, and insight into funding opportunities that support this kind of project.
The NADO Research Foundation supported the project through funding provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development through a contract to provide technical assistance to rural communities. USDA is an equal opportunity provider.
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