Case Studies

There is not just one way to use federal funding for creative placemaking. Each project or program is unique and creative thinking is often required to match up the programs that might work for a given initiative. We have collected from around the country examples of the ways practitioners were able to access public resources – both federal and state – for their creative placemaking work.

Several overarching themes stand out across these stories. First, relationships were almost always key to making these projects work. Relationships at the state and local levels, in particular, helped these practitioners find resources, gain access to them or overcome obstacles in using them. Second, these projects thrived on the engagement and input of their communities. In most cases, the desires of the community came first, and the resources second. Third, in several of these examples, the presence of public resources helped leverage additional funding for the projects or programs, either because they increased the capacity of the organization or because they sparked interest in the project. The public resources worked as a catalyst for growth and sustainability.