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Building Blocks of Successful Communities

Building Blocks of Successful Communities

To build prosperity, rural communities need the resources and capacity that will prepare them for solutions and opportunities to complex issues like housing, childcare, the workforce, health, transportation and more. Rural communities need strong leadership and governance, diverse partners, plans and pipelines of viable projects if they’re going to be able to secure and use funding effectively — they need to be ready with an organizational foundation that allows them to capitalize on opportunity.

light bulb representing assessments

Assessments, Vision and Plans

Steps to Success

  • Understand community needs and resources to identify solutions
  • Build a community vision that captures the goals and hopes for the future
  • Develop plans and strategies that create a roadmap to achieve the community’s vision
  • Create concepts and plans for projects that implement community’s vision and plans

ORP Support

  • Rural Readiness Grants to support studies and plans that catalyze action and investment
  • Rural Readiness Network staff support to initiate early-stage planning or visioning processes
  • Rural Readiness Network staff support with community assessments, readiness assessments, and asset mapping
  • Rural Readiness Network connections to partner agencies and organizations that can provide fellowships, internships or training
two hands inside of a heart representing community

Staff, Leadership and Expertise

Steps to Success

  • Provide accountable staff support to effectively lead community initiatives and projects
  • Ensure staff and officials have training and information needed to support community initiatives, including grant application and reporting, project management and planning processes
  • Ensure staff and officials have training, skills and procedures to lead complex projects, navigate conflict and ensure effective community participation

ORP Support

  • Rural Readiness Grants to support staff and consultants for leadership development training to build skills and expertise among emerging rural leaders
  • Leadership peer networks to provide support and training for rural leaders
  • Rural Readiness Network connections to partner agencies and organizations that can provide fellowships, internships or training
four hands stacked representing staff

Community Engagement and Collaboration

Steps to Success

  • Understand the community’s perspectives on issues and projects
  • Communicate regularly and work effectively with diverse community organizations, businesses and neighboring communities
  • Provide opportunities for meaningful community engagement and two-way dialogue
  • Regularly share information with the public about key issues, needs and solutions

ORP Support

  • Rural Readiness Grants to fund community engagement processes and collaborative initiatives
  • Rural Readiness Network staff support to convene partners and initiate community engagement processes
  • Rural Readiness Network staff support to coordinate events, trainings and other community learning opportunities

 

 

a target representing implementation

Project Financing, Management and Implementation

Steps to Success

  • Establish and maintain effective, transparent, and accountable procedures, processes, and systems that support community projects and goals

 

 

ORP Support

  • Rural Readiness Grants to fund grant writing staff or consultants, provide grant writing or other technical training and conduct early-phase design or engineering to launch projects
  • Rural Readiness Network connection to partner agencies and funders that can provide technical planning support, training or funding

The Office of Rural Prosperity understands that rural needs are diverse and complex, and offers targeted, responsive support to communities around specific needs.

Download the Building Blocks

We’re here to help you, wherever you are.

To learn more, contact by emailing LEO-ORP@Michigan.gov.