We invite proposals from communities that want to enhance the heart and soul attributes of their community through values-based planning, decision-making and action.
Communities must be located in either New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, or VT) or the northern Rocky Mountain region (CO, ID, MT, WY). They must be prepared to experiment with new methods and tools that further the town’s and the Foundation’s learning around an improved process for community planning.
The Foundation will support projects at a municipal or neighborhood scale. Project applicants must include an incorporated municipality (city or town) and at least one local or regional partner (public, private or non-profit). The Foundation will consider a joint application from “twin city” municipalities if they share a common identity. For the purposes of this RFP, and in order to create a learning community among Project Towns, the Foundation will not consider regional projects. It will not consider applications from counties or unincorporated townships.
The municipality must have no more than 30,000 residents, and must have either (1) a full-time town planner or (2) a community economic development staff or (3) a town manager that will fully participate in the project and help implement results. Local or regional partners must offer leadership, staff support, technical assistance, access to resources, or other substantive assistance with the project.
A community is ineligible if (1) it is looking only to fund the results of a previously completed visioning process without further community engagement, (2) is embroiled in a time-sensitive disruptive issue, or (3) has previously worked directly with the Foundation on a community project.