The state Commerce Department says the US Economic Development Administration’s “Public Space Initiative – Placemaking Planning Grant” application window opens July 15 , and runs until September 15th.
Commerce was awarded $1 million to administer the grant program in North Dakota.
Interim Commerce Commissioner Shawn Kessel said the intent is to provide $100,000 grants to communities, counties and tribal entities to help them create a plan.
"A plan that will attract and retain talented workers," Kessel said in an interview. "A plan that will strengthen the economic resiliency of those communities by promoting economic growth and economic activity."
Kessel said “placemaking” is at the heart of this.
"When you're in a community where they have done this well, there's vibrancy," Kessel said. "There's people all over the place, there's parks, there's points of interest, art, music, benches."
Kessel said it makes one feel both comforted and excited.
"Those are the things we're trying to create, and help our communities create," Kessel said. "It's those senses of place that people want to return to time and time again."
An informal Webinar for interested communities will be held Tuesday.
