What Is the Public Art Archive?

A new web platform has been developed to help residents and visitors find these unique expressions within your community. The Public Art Archive is a free, open-access online resource dedicated to documenting public art locations. Since its launch, the archive has made public art more discoverable, more researched, and more appreciated by everyone.

Think of it as a dynamic, ever-growing atlas of artistic expression in public spaces.

What You Can Find in the Archive

The Public Art Archive is a great resource to get your public art projects the attention they deserve. PAA is the largest database that is dedicated to cataloging public art with over 30,000 artworks documented worldwide. But what types of art can you find in the archive? Here are a few examples:

• Sculptures, murals, mosaics, monuments, memorials, digital works, and temporary installations
• Artist biographies and project histories
• Location maps and photography
• Collection-level information from participating public art programs
• Thematic collections and curated highlights

With new art being added to the archive on a regular basis, this resource is only going to grow in popularity. But art doesn’t get added by itself. It is important for your community to show a concerted effort to add art to the database.

Why the Public Art Archive Matters

Communities can use the Public Art Archive to keep an inventory of their public artworks. But the Archive is also a good platform to share the art within the community with residents, tourists, and online visitors. It is a free archive, which is perfect for smaller communities with limited budgets. With a little effort, small towns can share their public art collection, enhancing local education and helping to cultivate a sense of community.

As a web-based platform, the Archive effectively places your town “on the map,” a map that connects people globally. Disregard any potential fame from your community’s public art collection; the Archive has the ability to put your town on the map.

Final Thoughts

Public art enriches our daily lives and is an integral part of successful placemaking. It can also shape your town’s identity, telling a story about who you are as a community. Archiving your community’s projects in the Public Art Archive expands the reach of that story.

If you haven’t explored the archive yet, it is worth a visit. Check it out and think about how it can help the public art in your community shine.

The post Get Your Town on the Map with Public Art Archive appeared first on Rural Resurrection.

Much like nearly any other project, you want to complete for your community, placemaking can become costly. Once your community has conceived a vision for what they want, the dollar figures are applied. That’s when the heart attack sets in. Your heart skips a beat when you see the cost estimates for the placemaking projects your community has worked so hard to conceive.

But there is help out there for those whose budgets aren’t able to pay the full tab of a placemaking project. Although there are a number of funding sources available, especially locally and regionally, here are six notable grants and programs for placemaking available at a national level.

Our Town Grants – National Endowment for the Arts

Art is a key factor in developing a sense of place. It makes spaces memorable, comfortable, interesting, and lively. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) provides grants that promote the use of arts and culture in creative placemaking. One of those is the Our Town Grant program.

The Our Town grant program offers matching grants of $25,000 to $200,000 for arts and culture partnerships between government agencies and nonprofits with the goal of creatively infusing art into places.

Game Tables, Placemaking in Gene Leahy Mall – Omaha, NE

Community Challenge Grant – AARP

AARP has been awarding Community Challenge grants since 2017 with over $12.7 million awarded through over 1,060 grants. Each year they award at least $1 million in total grant funds to innovative projects. Some examples of these projects include innovative approaches to increasing civic engagement, public space activations, increasing transit use and active transportation, housing affordability, smart cities, and other innovative projects to

Placemaking Grant – National Association of Realtors

Each year the National Association of Realtors awards grant funds for placemaking projects throughout the nation. Awards come in two tiers. The first level is for smaller demonstration-scale projects and public space experiments. The Level 2 projects help to fund larger, more impactful community destinations.

Patronicity “Crowdgranting” Programs

Patronicity tends to think a little outside of the norm when thinking about helping communities. But maybe what they are doing should become the norm. They are combining crowdfunding with grants to make projects work. Through their platform, you can leverage community support to make placemaking projects a reality.

Patronicity coaches your project leaders through the crowdfunding campaign and then matches the funds with the support of a philanthropic organization to fund projects. “Crowdgranting” is different from the norm of writing grants to fund your placemaking project, but it’s a proven project that works.

Placemaking, Town Square Amphitheater –
West Union, Iowa

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There are other grants and programs for placemaking. But these are the key national ones that can have an impact on your community.

The post 6 Grants for Placemaking appeared first on Rural Resurrection.

Even if you can’t make it to Detroit this year, it’s still a good week to work on placemaking in your community. It’s a good time to take a look at your community’s gathering spaces through another lens. What adjustments to these areas can make them more welcoming, more interesting to those who visit?

Read Up on the Subject

Rural Resurrection has provided a few posts over the years on placemaking as it is an important aspect that can affect tourism, resident/business attraction, and overall resident happiness and retention. Some of these posts are:

• What is Placemaking?
• Nebraska’s Creative Districts
• The Pop-Up Placemaking Tool Kit
• Regent knows Art is Key in Placemaking

Additionally, here are a few more articles on placemaking on other sites:

Halifax – A Waterfront That Does It Well – by the Social Life Project

Public Art and Creative Placemaking Plan – An ArcGIS Storymaps plan document for the City of Wisconsin Rapids

Some Good Placemaking I’ve Seen in the Past Year

Over the past year, I have had the chance to witness placemaking in various forms. All of which has helped create a sense of place for the communities where they’re placed. Here are a few examples:

The post International Placemaking Week 2026 appeared first on Rural Resurrection.

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Detroit as the Venue

For the third straight year, the event has been held in the upper latitudes of the US, hence I was wary of this year’s location. Motown is not typically warm during the month of April. I decided to head to Detroit a couple of days early to take a look around, and the temperatures were fantastic! Downtown Detroit is a lively and interesting destination with pedestrian plazas, numerous murals, and an interesting mix of new and older buildings.

Comerica Park

Part of the reason that I went early was to catch a Tigers baseball game. The Tigers have always been one of my second-tier favorites, and I wanted to see Comerica Park. The park didn’t disappoint, and neither did my tickets! A good game ended in another win for what used to be Sparky’s team.

Although Comerica Park was great in itself. I also got to see the first of a few small parks on my walk back to the hotel that night. Each of the plazas has a different look, including this one, Harmonie Park. Amongst the vine-covered trees, the stone walls, and a variety of seating types is a mix of lighting types that add ambiance at night.

Numerous Splines of Parks

Downtown Detroit has a mix of node and linear parks lined in splines that connect different areas amongst the high-rise development around them. Although there are plenty more parks in the downtown area, I was able to visit Campus Martius Park, Cadillac Square Park, and Esplanade on Woodward Avenue while I was in town. As with Harmonie Park, each park in Downtown Detroit offers a different set of amenities, giving each its own unique placemaking scheme.

Detroit River Front

Detroit’s 5.5-mile revitalized waterfront spans from the Ambassador Bridge to Belle Isle. It has been voted the best riverfront in the United States multiple times. So I was quite excited to check it out when I was there. Unfortunately, I only made it a mile before my leg started to give out on me. Provided below are some pictures of the experience, many of the areas will look much better during the summer months.

I’m a Foodie, of Course I’m Going to Talk About Food!

As with every year, part of my excitement with NPC is the food. A new city each year brings with it new restaurants to try. This year was no different.

Of course, I found a few pubs that filled my hankering for fish and chips as well as a shepherd’s pie (as I do each year). I don’t think it’s a coincidence that The Three Legged Goat had the best fish and chips, it just makes sense. But the best food I had at a pub while I was there was at Grand Trunk Pub. After one of the better pub burgers I had in a while, I went back for more. The second time around, I grabbed the Eggs Benedict. The dish was smothered in such a light and creamy Hollandaise sauce that it took considerable restraint not to lick the plate clean!

We also visited two pizza joints in town. Supino Pizzeria, a former stop for Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, served good New York-style pizza. But the best in my eyes was Buddy’s Detroit-style pizza. I could go back to Buddy’s again and again!

The Conference Itself

APA CEO Joel Albizo (@JoelAlbizo), APA Board President Sue Schwartz, and the Mayor of Detroit, Mary Scheffield (@MsMarySheffield) welcomed everyone to the event. Sue, who spoke in 2025 at the Nebraska Planning Conference, welcomed everyone with her typical infectious energy. However, the Mayor stole the show in her statement, “What makes this conference so powerful is that it’s not just about ideas but also action and implementation.” That definitely stirred the souls of many of the planners who were in the audience.

The opening keynote was Jaz Ampaw-Farr, a multi-award-winning inspirational speaker and one of the top female motivational speakers in the UK. Jaz shared her challenging and often brutal childhood with those in attendance, but also used honesty and humor to empower people to think differently about leading and empowering change.

Here’s a short video of her speaking on TEDx:

Rural Planning at NPC

As mentioned in my pre-conference post on NPC ’26, there were a number of sessions that piqued my interest from a rural mindset.

Data Centers and AI

This year, it seemed as though half of the sessions had to deal with data centers of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Both technological issues are having quite an impact on the planning and zoning world in various ways.

For data centers, the topic involved allowing for their development while limiting the negative impacts. Considerations of zoning text amendments and development agreements were discussed quite a bit. One community discussed five different changes that they had implemented in their zoning ordinance and comprehensive plan over the years as they have adjusted to the rapidly changing landscape of data center development.

The topic of AI was rampant throughout many of the sessions. Even in the sessions where it wasn’t a central part of the main topic. From adjusting to autonomous vehicles to gathering public input to streamlining the permitting process, AI was an integral part of many of the presentations. There was even a session on ethics-related aspects tied to AI, something that makes one’s mind wander about how it can be misused in a government-related environment.

Regionalism

One of the sessions that I really enjoyed was about regionalism in rural areas. Entitled “New Ruralism: Town and County Collaboration in Planning”, the session discussed how Shenandoah County, Virginia, and the communities within it are working together on a variety of planning-related projects.

On top of the projects that they’ve been collaborating on, the presenters discussed the various ways they keep up the relationships between the governments. They hold a monthly town manager / county administration breakfast. There are also monthly planning coffee/lunch gatherings. It appears to be a highly cooperative arrangement between these entities that should be a foundation for others to strive to be like.

My Disdain with Placemaking Sessions

One topic that frustrated me during the conference was “placemaking”. Presenters are putting that word in presentation titles without restraint. Yet the presentation topics are turning out to be more about general economic development or redevelopment, with little if any consideration or discussion of actual placemaking. It makes me want to get up and thumb my nose at them as I walk out!

There, I’ll step down off my soapbox now.

A Wigged Judge on a Curb

Yeah, you read that right.

By far the most entertaining session of the entire conference was “Curb Court: Trials of the Right-of-Way”. The session involved one witty “judge” with a powdered wig on, as well as four other “cast members” playing various parts. As worded in the session description, it involved:

“Two cases, grounded in real-world examples and data-driven insights, incite a lively debate featuring curbside users arguing about various curb-space needs ranging from micromobility, loading zones, paid parking, bike lanes and ride-share pickups. Industry leaders serving as judge, prosecution, and defense, present compelling and nuanced arguments to advocate for their respective positions. Participants act as jurors, engaging in discussion, deliberation, and consensus-building to determine an equitable and effective verdict.“

What was delivered was an enjoyable learning experience laced with comical one-liners and puns. One of my favorite sessions.

Wrapping Up NPC

Finishing out the conference, attendees were able to listen to John Register. John’s speech hit me a little differently than past keynotes. John’s story is related to the loss of his left leg. It focused on his post-amputation journey and how he “hurdled” adversity. As a fellow amputee, his speech spoke volumes to me and made me reflect on my own journey.

Here’s a brief video about John Register:

In Summary

Detroit was much better than I thought it would be. We’ve all heard of the bankruptcy, the massive areas of disinvestment and demolition, and the loss of affordable housing. But downtown Detroit was vibrant, with more improvements under construction. Comerica Park and the Detroit Riverfront were great. Overall, it was a pretty good venue for a conference of 4,700 planning geeks. Check out the Rural Resurrection Instagram account for more pictures from this year’s NPC.

As usual, I’m already looking forward to next year’s conference. In the spring of 2027, Houston residents will have to get used to the hordes of planning nerds trouncing through their community as well. Look out, Space City, here we come!

The post APA NPC ’26 – Detroit – The Aftermath appeared first on Rural Resurrection.

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This is my fifth year writing about memorial parks on Memorial Day. In the first post, I wrote about the Higgins National Memorial Park in Columbus. A stunning tribute to not only local veterans but also Andrew Jackson Higgins, the creator of the Higgins Boat landing craft. Last year’s post was about Heartland Memorial Park in Central City, Nebraska, a great example of what a small community can do when it pulls together to put together a great memorial park.

This year, I’m looking back on RAGBRAI in 2024. That year, the rumble across Iowa rolled through the southern quarter of the state on its way to Burlington and the Mississippi River. The fifth day would land us in the city of Albia as the Meeting Town for some lunch. Driving the Buff Bus, I was cruising along Highway 34 approaching the community when I noticed the massive Welcome Home Soldier Monument to the north. Despite being only a shuttle bus, the Buff Bus doesn’t exactly stop on a dime. I pulled over as soon as I got into town and headed back to this memorial.

Eight Acres of Honor

In the hills just west of Albia, the Welcome Home Soldier Monument spreads across an impressive eight acres. This powerful tribute to veterans began as a local vision, but has grown into a destination that is well worth stomping on the brakes to pull over and check out. The memorial itself is more than a single monument to take a look at, it is an immersive experience.

The Welcome Home Soldier Monument started out in 2005 with a dream and an organized gathering of determined individuals. What was created is a stunning tribute to both living and deceased active duty, peacetime, and wartime, honorably discharged veterans.

Lighting the Way

Site lighting has always been an interest of mine. With proper lighting a community’s parks, memorials, and other gathering spaces can look stunning at night. That’s why I was drawn to the bollards in the Welcome Home Soldier Monument.

Outside of the up lighting on each monument, the facility has a number of lighted bollards that follow the meandering walkways that connect each node. Each bollard has the name of a veteran and the service that they served under punched out of the steel. So, at night, these bollards not only light the pathways, but the light also displays the name of the veteran.

Numerous Nodes of Recognition

To call this place “a monument” doesn’t do it justice. The Welcome Home Soldier Monument is actually multiple nodes of recognition. Each one provides a bold tribute in one captivating manner or another.

Visitors can walk among the 100 American flags on “Humble Hero Hill,” pass through an amphitheater lined with state flags from all 50 states, and visit a variety of monuments dedicated to major conflicts from the Civil War to the Vietnam War. At the center lies a Wall of Honor where those in attendance can reflect on the thousands of names etched into the black granite. But one of the most captivating pieces was a row of 21 white crosses that leads you into the monument from the entrance. The symbolism links back to the 21-gun salute, a military honor during a funeral, signifying respect and honor.

Fundraising for the Monument

As stated on the monument’s website: “Welcome Home Soldier was organized by veterans. Led by a board of seven veterans, supported by a diverse advisory board and professional legal and financial consultants, we have enlisted dedicated individuals to ensure the success of our mission.” It is clear that they are well organized with boards filled with select individuals with the skills for success. The website also provides information not only about how you can contribute financially, but also about how you can become a volunteer.

Despite the work of the Welcome Home Soldier Committee to create what’s already been constructed. They still have plans for the future that need funding. The website provides information on upcoming projects and a link to their donation brochure. It also provides the tax ID number of the 501(c)3 organization, allowing contributions to be tax-deductible. A key ingredient for fundraising drives related to non-profit projects like the Welcome Home Soldier Monument.

An Example for Other Communities

This massive, gorgeous memorial is a tremendous accomplishment. Especially for a town the size of Albia. What they’ve created is no small feat. But obviously, it wasn’t too overwhelming for those who meticulously put it together.

If you know of another memorial in a rural community that deserves recognition, let me know in the comments section.

The post Memorial Day: Welcome Home Soldier Memorial appeared first on Rural Resurrection.

Provided below is a list of the postings on Rural Resurrection about the subject of Housing. When new posts on this subject are added to the blog, this post will typically be updated and re-published later in the week.

• 
  Knoxville Veterans District Provides Workforce HousingMay 18, 2026
  The month of May is Affordable Housing Month. Rural Resurrection continues to look at ways to help communities to provide safe, decent, affordable housing. Across the rural Midwest, communities are… Read more »
• 
  Pawnee City Didn’t Wait for Housing to HappenMay 11, 2026
  The month of May is Affordable Housing Month. Rural Resurrection continues to look at ways to help communities to provide safe, decent, affordable housing. Across rural America, housing storages are… Read more »
• 
  Affordable Housing Month 2026May 4, 2026
  The month of May is Affordable Housing Month. Rural Resurrection continues to look at ways to help communities provide safe, decent, affordable housing. Whereas rural America used to have an… Read more »
• 
  ADUs Work for Small Towns TooMay 19, 2025
  One topic that has not yet been addressed on Rural Resurrection is Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). According to the American Planning Association (APA) an ADU is: “…a smaller, independent residential… Read more »
• 
  The Housing Supply Accelerator PlaybookMay 12, 2025
  May is Affordable Housing Month. Rural Resurrection continues to explore ways to help communities provide safe, decent, affordable housing. Last year, at this time, I reported on a new initiative that… Read more »
• 
  Affordable Housing Month 2025May 5, 2025
  The month of May is Affordable Housing Month. Rural Resurrection continues to look at ways to help communities to provide safe, decent, affordable housing. For the past few years, I… Read more »
• 
  5 Modular Homes for Midwest Infill Housing DevelopmentMay 20, 2024
  The month of May is Affordable Housing Month. Rural Resurrection continues to look at ways to help communities to provide safe, decent, affordable housing. As mentioned previously on Rural Resurrection,… Read more »
• 
  What is the Housing Supply Accelerator?May 13, 2024
  The month of May is Affordable Housing Month. Rural Resurrection continues to look at ways to help communities to provide safe, decent, affordable housing. The National League of Cities (NLC)… Read more »
• 
  The Importance of Infill DevelopmentApril 22, 2024
  Driving through many small towns there is a clear development pattern that has grown in intensity over the past few decades. New housing is sprouting up on the fringe of… Read more »
• 
  Main Street’s Housing Guidebook for Local LeadersMay 22, 2023
  Those of you who follow Rural Resurrection’s Twitter account (@ruralresurrect), know that I tend to follow Main Street America’s Twitter feed (@NatlMainStreet) quite closely. In fact, if you looked at… Read more »
• 
  AARP Helping with Missing Middle HousingMay 15, 2023
  One of the many takeaways from the APA National Conference in Philadelphia this year was AARP’s investment in planning. I’ve already mentioned their desire to fund good placemaking efforts. But… Read more »
• 
  Know Your Midwest Housing StylesMay 8, 2023
  Every rural community has a wide range of housing styles. Many times the styles of your housing stock are based purely on what style was prevalent during the time period… Read more »
• 
  Affordable Housing Month 2023May 1, 2023
  The month of May is Affordable Housing Month. Rural Resurrection continues to look at ways to help communities to provide safe, decent, affordable housing. Whereas rural America used to have… Read more »
• 
  Inmates Helping to Meet Affordable Housing DemandMay 23, 2022
  The month of May is Affordable Housing Month. Rural Resurrection continues to look at ways to help communities to provide safe, decent, affordable housing. Affordable housing is a growing issue… Read more »
• 
  Know Your Housing Market and its AdvantagesMay 9, 2022
  One of the blogs that I regularly follow is Strong Towns (@StrongTowns). I’ve seen the founder, Charles Marohn, speak in public before. I’m even currently reading his latest book, Confessions… Read more »
• 
  Affordable Housing Month 2022May 2, 2022
  The month of May is Affordable Housing Month. Rural Resurrection continues to look at ways to help communities to provide safe, decent, affordable housing. As stated last year, this month… Read more »
• 
  Addressing Need with Housing Needs AssessmentsNovember 22, 2021
  Last year I briefly discussed five plans every community should have. One of those was Housing Studies or Housing Needs Assessments. Housing is a hot topic right now as the… Read more »
• 
  The “Make Marshalltown Home” ProgramJune 21, 2021
  June is National Home Ownership Month. So it seems appropriate to have at least one article on on way for others to invest in your community. In it’s simplest form,… Read more »
• 
  Lloyd House Changing the Look of Affordable HousingMay 24, 2021
  The month of May is Affordable Housing Month. In celebration of Affordable Housing Month, Rural Resurrection is looking at adaptive reuse of the Lloyd House building as a way to… Read more »
• 
  Home Repair Problematic for Elderly and DisabledApril 5, 2021
  Rising healthcare and insurance costs are impacting everyone. However there are two groups that are quite possibly the most adversely affected that we don’t hear from as much as other,… Read more »

Building Knowledge: Accessory Dwelling Units

Here’s an interesting article on Accessory Dwelling Units on the Master’s in Public Administration website. It provides some basic information about ADUs as well as the state-level regulations for states that have adopted legislation on the subject.

You may know of an interesting, affordable housing project in a rural community. One that may be a helpful example to other communities, don’t keep it to yourself! Let us know through our contact form.

The post Housing: Links to Stories appeared first on Rural Resurrection.

Across the rural Midwest, communities are quietly wrestling with a difficult question: what should happen to the massive institutional campuses left behind when federal facilities, hospitals, or schools close? On Rural Resurrection, we’ve highlighted a few communities that have chosen adaptive reuse to breathe new life into these historic buildings. However, stakeholders in Knoxville, Iowa, have chosen a different route that is yielding impressive results.

Local leaders weren’t faced with what to do with a single building, but an entire campus of derelict buildings. A former Veterans Administration hospital campus located along one of the main entrances into the community loomed over Knoxville like a dark cloud. But the enormity of the scope required to redevelop the site didn’t stop local leaders. They were determined to turn this eyesore into a long-term asset to the community.

From Federal Campus to Community Opportunity

The Veterans District started off in 1892 as the Industrial Home for the Blind. It would eventually become a veterans hospital in 1920. Over time, the campus expanded into a massive institutional complex with roughly 750,000 square feet of buildings. During World War II, the facility housed about 1,600 patients during peak times.

When the federal government closed the facility in 2009, Knoxville lost a major employer and economic anchor for the community. What remained was a derelict 152-acre campus, too large to ignore, but too tough a nut to crack with a quick redevelopment fix.

Knowing that it was too large of a project for any of the local developers, the City and Marion County worked together on a solution. In 2020, the County acquired the site from the federal government. They then entered into a joint redevelopment agreement (28E) with the City to guide the site’s future together.

Working from a Blank Slate

Before redevelopment could take place, though, the existing site needed to be cleared. To do so, Marion County spent roughly $11 million to demolish the abandoned hospital buildings and obsolete infrastructure. This wasn’t a simple task either, as it involved the demolition and removal of massive structures and the remediation of environmental issues like asbestos. Though costly, it was a necessary step in the redevelopment process. Unless incentives are involved to cover demolition and clearing of a site, developers will choose “greenfield” sites over redevelopment sites.

Once the demolition was complete, Knoxville would take on the next task: installing the base infrastructure to spark new development. Providing the base infrastructure is often seen as a better incentive, as it gives the community an asset rather than a handout to the developer. It also helps the developer limit their development costs and financial risk.

To help fund these activities, a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district was set up for the District. Under the agreement between the entities, the TIF district’s proceeds would be split evenly to reimburse Marion County for demolition and the City of Knoxville for infrastructure improvements.

Planning for Decades, Not a Single Project

Many communities approach sites like this with a rigid master plan and a hope that the market will buy in and cooperate with the design. However, Knoxville took a different approach.

The Veterans District Concept Plan (2024) intentionally treats redevelopment as a long-term process that will evolve over decades. Instead of dictating a specific plan with building types and land uses, the plan provides a flexible framework that allows development to shift in response to market conditions. The flexibility within the plan reflects the hard truth about rural redevelopment. It won’t happen in one fell swoop, but gradually, over time.

Overall, the concept plan was simple, only eight pages long. But it provided the basis for the redevelopment and a path forward. The resulting land use plan laid out the variety of uses allowed on the site and also provided flexibility in use types to meet market demands.

Focusing on the Housing Need

Like most cities, Knoxville has been in dire need of affordable housing. This immediate need is where the leaders at the County and the City focused the first phase of the Veterans District. The City invested about $5 million in the initial phase of infrastructure for the development. For that sum, the groundwork was laid for 34 residential lots, a new park, and trail connections linking the Veterans District to the rest of the community.

As additional plats are approved, the district will gradually expand to include more housing, recreational amenities and other community facilities, including potential school sites. It’s an incremental approach that may draw criticism as inflation impacts future phases. But it is a prudent approach with limited budgets. When redevelopment doesn’t take place as quickly as anticipated, a phased approach is also an ideal approach for public perception. Without phasing, new infrastructure can sit unused, drawing the public ire.

Origin Homes secured a workforce housing tax credit from the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA). The homebuilder was able to use this tax credit, which incentivizes developers to construct affordable homes by refunding sales, service, or use taxes paid during construction. Based on the credit requirements, residents must meet specific area median income guidelines.

Infrastructure Unlocks the Next Phase

In early 2026, Knoxville received a $750,000 federal grant to build a sanitary lift station within the Veterans District. The funding will assist in the construction of a sanitary lift station within the Veterans District. Critical to the next phase of development, this lift station will allow further expansion of the District to the west.

While lift stations rarely make for good headlines, they are often the keys to future development. Without adequate sewer capacity, large portions of the district would remain essentially undevelopable. City officials highlighted that aspect when the grant was announced. The lift station is “a critical piece of infrastructure” needed to support additional housing and revitalization as the City and County continue to build on the momentum the Veterans District has gained. (City of Knoxville, IA)

The momentum for this redevelopment project continues to build. Over 20 single-family homes have been built with a mix of entry-level workforce housing and larger, market-rate houses intermingled. Two of the multi-family buildings have been erected, one designated for 55+ residents. “We’re already further along than most people back 5 years ago thought we’d be in 10 years,” states Dan Nieland of Marion County Development.

Key Takeaways

In asking what has made this project a success so far, Mr. Nieland pointed out several factors. The first being teamwork. “Having everybody at the table and talking through these things,” he stated. “At least we’re at the same table exploring options.” There’s a noticeable common shared goal between the two entities that drives them to success.

Also, under the 28E agreement, the two entities established a smaller joint task force to handle a significant share of development-related decisions. This Joint Development Committee (JDC) consists of one member of the Knoxville City Council, one member of the Marion County Board of Supervisors, and one resident appointed jointly by both entities. The intent was to have the resident be someone knowledgeable with development/redevelopment. Having everybody at the table and talking through issues as they arise, rather than putting everything before the governing boards of both entities, has made the project flow more smoothly.

Lastly, it is important to support ideas that can result in a positive change to your community. “At least explore it. Don’t reject it out of hand,” Dan states. “Especially in today’s world, the out-of-the-box ideas seem to be what makes things happen.”

The Real Lesson for Rural Communities

The most important takeaway from Knoxville’s Veterans District isn’t the concept plan or the housing developed. It’s the combined efforts of a county and a city to create something transformational from a decaying relic from a time gone by.

Instead of waiting for a single developer to take on such a monumental undertaking, local stakeholders have put the work on their backs. They obtained control of the land, removed the obsolete structures, and commenced the phased buildout of infrastructure necessary for redevelopment.

Knoxville is a town known for sprint car racing, home to the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame. But it should be recognized for something else. The innovative desire of two government entities to undertake a massive redevelopment project.

The post Knoxville Veterans District Provides Workforce Housing appeared first on Rural Resurrection.

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