Downtown Revitalization

Regional Rural Development Centers, established by the Rural Development Act of 1972 [congress.gov], link public universities with stakeholders in rural communities to help address a wide range of development issues.

• North Central Regional Center for Rural Development [purdue.edu]
• Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development [psu.edu]
• Southern Rural Development Center [msstate.edu]
• Western Rural Development Center [usu.edu] 

• Citizens' Institute on Rural Design [rural-design.org] 
  CIRD is a leadership initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Housing Assistance Council. Find resources for arts and culture, downtown revitalization, growth, heritage and preservation, land and agricultural conservation, and transportation. Resources available in various formats, including case studies, how-to guides, and reports.
   
• Creating Resilient and Vibrant Downtowns. [wisc.edu]
  University Extension Programs and Resources for Downtown Development. Provided by Universities of WI, IL, MN, and Iowa State University. 
   
• Downtown and Business District Market Analysis: Using Market Data and Geographic Information Systems to Identify Economic Opportunities in Small Cities. [uwex.edu]
  University of Wisconsin-Extension.
   
• Engaging Small Businesses in Rural Economic Development: Seven Guidelines for Success. [missouri.edu]
  A. Hause and M. Rahe. University of Missouri Extension. 2019.

• Rebuilding Main Street in Rural America: How to Engage Support, Find Funding and Build a Stronger Community. [mainstreet.org]
  Wendy Van Duyne. Main Street America. 2019.
   
• Smart Growth in Small Towns and Rural Communities. [epa.gov]
  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
   
• Why Main Streets are a Key Driver of Equitable Economic Recovery in Rural America. [brookings.edu] 
  The Brookings Institution. 2020.
   
• Downtown Revitalization in Lost Nation, Iowa Best Practices & Recommendations [uiowa.edu, PDF, 936 KB] 
  L. Engle, J. Gill, M. Pryor, and D. Wagner. University of Iowa. 2016
   
• Working Together: A Guide to Collaboration in Rural Revitalization. [ncsu.edu]
  A. Savage, S. Brune, M. Hovis, S.E. Spencer, M. Dinan, and E. Seekamp. NCSU Extension. 2018.
   
• A Rural Service Provider's Guide to Immigrant Entrepreneurship. [uni.edu, PDF, 6.9 MB]
  University of Northern Iowa, RBC/ SBDC, Iowa Center for Immigrant Leadership and Integration. 2006
   
• Creative Uses for Downtown Buildings in Small Towns - A Sample of Ideas to Bring People Back Downtown. [wisc.edu, PDF, 2 MB] 
  B. Ryan, E. Lutz, and M. Kono with E. Welty. University of Wisconsin Extension. 2017.
   
• Small Business Perspectives on the Role of Rural Libraries in Economic Development. [uchicago.edu] B. Mehra, B.W. Bishop, and R. Partee II. 
  The Library Quarterly 87(1). 2017.

• Downtown Digest. [downtowndevelopment.com]
• Journal of Housing & Community Development. [nahro.org]
• Journal of the Community Development Society. [tandfonline.com] (requires login)
• Planning. [planning.org]
• Preservation Magazine. [savingplaces.org]
• PM Magazine. (Public Management) [icma.org]

• American Planning Association [planning.org]. 
  Chicago, IL. A non-profit, public interest group that focuses on research, policy, education and information dissemination for practicing planners, officials, and citizens involved with urban and rural planning issues. Also has the Small Towns and Rural Planning Division with specific small town focus.
   
• International City/County Management Association [icma.org]. 
  Washington. The professional and educational organization representing appointed managers and administrators in local governments. Services include: annual conference; publications; research; and special focused initiatives that include Brownfields, sustainable communities, Intelligent transportation systems, performance measurement, military base reuse smart growth and best practices symposium are just some of the many programs.
   
• International Downtown Association [downtown.org]. 
  Washington, DC. Dedicated to the revitalization of downtown areas and their adjacent neighborhoods. Focuses its programs on effective management of downtowns, including retailing, security, maintenance, physical design, business development, transportation, culture and entertainment.
   
• National Association of Towns and Townships [natat.org].
  Washington, DC. Provides technical assistance, educational services, and public policy support to local government officials of small communities across the country. Conducts research and develops public policy recommendations to help improve the quality of life in small communities.
   
• Main Street America [mainstreet.org].
  Washington, DC. Assists states, communities and citizens in the revitalization of business districts within a preservation context. Provides information and consultation on downtown revitalization, through technical assistance, the National Main Street Network, conferences, products and Main Street Certification Institute.