<HTML dir=ltr><HEAD>
<META content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv=Content-Type>
<STYLE id=owaParaStyle>P {
MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px
}
</STYLE>
<META name=GENERATOR content="MSHTML 8.00.7601.17998"></HEAD>
<BODY style="MARGIN: 4px 4px 1px; FONT: 10pt Segoe UI; COLOR: #000000" id=role_body leftMargin=7 topMargin=7 ocsi="0" fPStyle="1">
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; DIRECTION: ltr; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#ff0000><U>FYI: this email is being sent over the OMS listserve</U></FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><A href="http://www.nea.gov/news/news13/CIRD.html" target=_blank>http://www.nea.gov/news/news13/CIRD.html</A></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<P>
<TABLE style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'" border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=542>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(204,204,204) 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(204,204,204) 1px; BORDER-RIGHT-STYLE: none; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: rgb(204,204,204); BORDER-TOP: rgb(204,204,204) 1px" vAlign=top>
<H2 style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; COLOR: rgb(0,51,102); FONT-SIZE: 15px"><STRONG style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Citizens' Institute on Rural Design Issues RFP for Rural Communities Facing Design Challenges</STRONG></H2>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; COLOR: rgb(0,51,102); FONT-SIZE: 11px"><STRONG style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><EM>Partnership of federal agencies and national organizations offers workshop funding, technical assistance, and additional resources</EM></STRONG></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; COLOR: rgb(0,51,102); FONT-SIZE: 11px"><STRONG style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Thursday, January 10, 2013</STRONG></P>
<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="35%" align=right>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(204,204,204) 1px; BORDER-RIGHT: rgb(204,204,204) 1px solid" vAlign=top width=11><IMG border=1 alt="" src=" " width=10 height=10 showedTooltip="0" enterTime="1358433088373"><SPAN style="WIDTH: 0px; HEIGHT: 0px; OVERFLOW: hidden" id=OWAImgPlaceHolder> </SPAN></TD>
<TD vAlign=top width=10><IMG border=1 alt="" src=" " width=10 height=10><SPAN style="WIDTH: 0px; HEIGHT: 0px; OVERFLOW: hidden" id=OWAImgPlaceHolder> </SPAN></TD>
<TD vAlign=top width=149>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; COLOR: rgb(0,51,102); FONT-SIZE: 11px"><STRONG style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Contact</STRONG>s:<BR><U>Cynthia Nikitin</U><BR>CIRD Program Director<BR>Project for Public Spaces <BR><A href="tel:212-620-5660%20ext.%20328" target=_blank value="+12126205660">212-620-5660 ext. 328</A><BR><A href="mailto:cnikitin@rural-design.org" target=_blank>cnikitin@rural-design.org</A></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; COLOR: rgb(0,51,102); FONT-SIZE: 11px"><U>John Barstow</U><BR>CommunityMatters and the Orton Family Foundation<U> </U><BR><A href="tel:802-388-6336" target=_blank value="+18023886336">802-388-6336</A> <BR><A href="mailto:jbarstow@orton.org" target=_blank>jbarstow@orton.org</A><BR></P></TD></TR>
<TR></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; COLOR: rgb(0,51,102); FONT-SIZE: 11px"><EM>Washington, DC -- </EM>Today, the Citizens' Institute on Rural Design (CIRD) is issuing a request for proposals to rural communities facing design challenges to host local workshops in 2013. </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; COLOR: rgb(0,51,102); FONT-SIZE: 11px">Successful applicants will receive a $7,000 grant and in-kind design expertise and technical assistance valued at $35,000. The Request for Proposals is on the new CIRD website: <A style="PADDING-RIGHT: 13px; COLOR: rgb(204,0,0)" href="http://www.rural-design.org/" target=_blank>www.rural-design.org</A>.</P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; COLOR: rgb(0,51,102); FONT-SIZE: 11px">The deadline for submitting a proposal is <STRONG style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><U>Tuesday March 5, 2013 at 5:00 pm EST</U></STRONG>.</P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; COLOR: rgb(0,51,102); FONT-SIZE: 11px">CIRD (formerly known as "Your Town") works to help rural communities with populations of 50,000 or fewer enhance their quality of life and economic vitality through facilitated design workshops. The program brings together local leaders, non-profits, and community organizations with a team of specialists in design, planning, and creative placemaking to address challenges like strengthening economies, enhancing rural character, leveraging cultural assets, and designing efficient housing and transportation systems.</P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; COLOR: rgb(0,51,102); FONT-SIZE: 11px">Since the program's inception in 1991, CIRD<STRONG style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"> </STRONG>has convened more than 60 workshops in all regions of the country with results that range from the development of public art plans and business improvement districts, to funding for the design of waterfront parks and pedestrian-friendly streetscape improvements. <BR> <BR>Each community selected to participate in the Institute will receive $7,000 to support planning and hosting a two-day workshop. Communities will be required to provide approximately $7,000 in matching funds (cash or in-kind). CIRD will work with the communities to assemble teams of specialists based on the communities' individual needs. The workshops will be augmented with conference calls and webinar presentations led by experts who will cover topics related to rural design. The calls will also be open to the general public through CommunityMatters.</P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; COLOR: rgb(0,51,102); FONT-SIZE: 11px">The new website at <A style="PADDING-RIGHT: 13px; COLOR: rgb(204,0,0)" href="http://www.rural-design.org/" target=_blank>www.rural-design.org</A> is a portal for resources on rural design gathered from diverse organizations across the country. It will be a place for interested citizens to connect with one another and get information about improving design in their own communities.</P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; COLOR: rgb(0,51,102); FONT-SIZE: 11px">Find the RFP and application guidelines at <A style="PADDING-RIGHT: 13px; COLOR: rgb(204,0,0)" href="http://www.rural-design.org/apply" target=_blank>www.rural-design.org/apply</A>. Selected communities will be announced in May 2013, and the workshops will be held during the summer and fall of 2013.</P>
<TABLE border=0 cellPadding=2 width=500>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TH vAlign=bottom width=75 scope=row align=left><A style="COLOR: rgb(204,0,0)" href="http://www.nea.gov/news/news13/rurdev.usda.gov" target=_blank><IMG border=1 alt="USDA logo" src=" " width=75 height=56><SPAN style="WIDTH: 0px; HEIGHT: 0px; OVERFLOW: hidden" id=OWAImgPlaceHolder> </SPAN></A></TH>
<TD vAlign=bottom width=8 align=left> </TD>
<TD vAlign=bottom width=90 align=left><A style="COLOR: rgb(204,0,0)" href="http://www.nea.gov/news/news13/pps.org" target=_blank><IMG border=1 alt="Project for Public Spaces logo" src=" " width=90 height=44><SPAN style="WIDTH: 0px; HEIGHT: 0px; OVERFLOW: hidden" id=OWAImgPlaceHolder> </SPAN></A></TD>
<TD vAlign=bottom width=10 align=left> </TD>
<TD vAlign=bottom width=135 align=left><A style="COLOR: rgb(204,0,0)" href="http://www.nea.gov/news/news13/orton.org" target=_blank><IMG border=1 alt="Orton Family Foundation logo" src=" " width=135 height=40><SPAN style="WIDTH: 0px; HEIGHT: 0px; OVERFLOW: hidden" id=OWAImgPlaceHolder> </SPAN></A></TD>
<TD vAlign=bottom width=10 align=left> </TD>
<TD vAlign=bottom width=128 align=left><A style="COLOR: rgb(204,0,0)" href="http://www.nea.gov/news/news13/communitymatters.org" target=_blank><IMG border=1 alt="CommunityMatters logo" src=" " width=139 height=40 showedTooltip="0" enterTime="1358433069746"><SPAN style="WIDTH: 0px; HEIGHT: 0px; OVERFLOW: hidden" id=OWAImgPlaceHolder> </SPAN></A></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; COLOR: rgb(0,51,102); FONT-SIZE: 11px">CIRD will offer three free application-assistance calls to answer questions and guide interested applicants in assembling their proposals. The first of these calls will take place on Wednesday, January 23, the second will take place on Thursday, February 7, and the third will take place on Thursday, February 28, 2013. Participation in each call is free but registration is required. To register, visit <A style="PADDING-RIGHT: 13px; COLOR: rgb(204,0,0)" href="http://www.rural-design.org/application-assistance" target=_blank>www.rural-design.org/application-assistance</A>.</P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; COLOR: rgb(0,51,102); FONT-SIZE: 11px">The Citizens' Institute on Rural Design is a National Endowment for the Arts leadership initiative in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Project for Public Spaces, Inc., along with the Orton Family Foundation and the CommunityMatters® Partnership. A task force of national experts in rural design and planning is also being assembled to help shape the CIRD program.</P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; COLOR: rgb(0,51,102); FONT-SIZE: 11px">*****</P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; COLOR: rgb(0,51,102); FONT-SIZE: 11px"><STRONG style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">About the National Endowment for the Arts</STRONG> <BR>The National Endowment for the Arts, established by Congress in 1965, is an independent agency of the federal government. To date, the NEA has awarded more than $4 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. Join the discussion on how art works. Visit the NEA at<A style="COLOR: rgb(204,0,0)" href="http://www.arts.gov/" target=_blank>arts.gov</A>.</P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; COLOR: rgb(0,51,102); FONT-SIZE: 11px"><STRONG style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">About the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Rural Development</STRONG><BR>USDA Rural Development administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure programs through a national network of state and local offices. Rural Development has an active portfolio of more than $176 billion in loans and loan guarantees. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America. <A style="PADDING-RIGHT: 13px; COLOR: rgb(204,0,0)" href="http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/Home.html" target=_blank>rurdev.usda.gov</A><STRONG style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"></STRONG></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; COLOR: rgb(0,51,102); FONT-SIZE: 11px"><STRONG style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">About Project for Public Spaces</STRONG> <BR>Project for Public Spaces (PPS) is a nonprofit planning, design, and educational organization dedicated to helping people create and sustain public spaces that build stronger communities. Founded in 1975, PPS has completed projects in over 2,500 communities and all 50 US states. PPS has become an internationally recognized center for resources, tools, and inspiration about Placemaking. <A style="PADDING-RIGHT: 13px; COLOR: rgb(204,0,0)" href="http://pps.org/" target=_blank>pps.org</A></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; COLOR: rgb(0,51,102); FONT-SIZE: 11px"><STRONG style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">About the Orton Family Foundation </STRONG><BR>The Orton Family Foundation, founded in 1995, helps small cities and towns harness the inherent ability of citizens to imagine and achieve a culturally and economically vibrant future for their community. The Foundation's Heart & Soul approach supports citizens in steering their town's future by discovering the characteristics and attributes valued most in their community and, then, by placing those shared values at the center of local decision making. <A style="PADDING-RIGHT: 13px; COLOR: rgb(204,0,0)" href="http://orton.org/" target=_blank>orton.org</A></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; COLOR: rgb(0,51,102); FONT-SIZE: 11px"><STRONG style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">About CommunityMatters</STRONG> <BR>CommunityMatters is a national partnership of seven organizations with the common goal of building strong communities through the improvement of local civic infrastructure. The partners are: Deliberative Democracy Consortium; Grassroots Grantmakers; National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation; New America Foundation; Orton Family Foundation; Project for Public Spaces; and Strong Towns.<A style="PADDING-RIGHT: 13px; COLOR: rgb(204,0,0)" href="http://communitymatters.org/" target=_blank>communitymatters.org</A></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; COLOR: rgb(0,51,102); FONT-SIZE: 11px"><BR>Return to <A style="COLOR: rgb(204,0,0)" href="http://www.nea.gov/news/index.html" target=_blank>News Index</A></P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></P>
<DIV>
<P> </P>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 13px"> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 13px"> </DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV>Sheri Stuart, Coordinator</DIV>
<DIV>Oregon Main Street</DIV>
<DIV>725 Summer St., Suite C</DIV>
<DIV>Salem, OR 97301</DIV>
<DIV>503.986.0679</DIV>
<DIV><A href="http://www.oregonheritage.org/">www.oregonheritage.org</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><EM>Oregon Main Street is administered by the State Historic Preservation Office, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.</EM></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">**CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE**<?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">This e-mail may contain information that is privileged or confidential.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If you are not the addressee or it appears from the context that you have received this e-mail in error, please advise me immediately by reply e-mail, keep the contents confidential, and immediately delete the message and any attachments from your system.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>