We have two speakers from the University of Kentucky that shared information and resources for engaging rural communities around the vital topics of Brownfields Redevelopment and Arts and Cultural Resilience Planning.

Shane Barton, MURP, with CEDIK (Community and Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky) leads a Brownfields Redevelopment Program at UK in partnership with the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet’s Department for Environmental Protection. This partnership aims to raise awareness of available funding and assist communities in redeveloping brownfield sites.

Leah Hamilton develops curriculum and teaches arts emergency management and cultural policy for the Arts Administration Department at UK. Recent extreme weather events in Kentucky have underscored the importance of community networks for increased readiness and recovery. This presentation discusses best practices for building relationships with artists and arts and culture organizations to build stronger, more ready, resilient rural communities.

This presentation was shared at the May 23, 2023 Placemaking in Small and Rural Communities Online Conference. This conference was cohosted by CEDIK at the University of Kentucky and USDA Rural Development.

Explore the online Rural America Placemaking Toolkit: www.ruralplacemaking.com

Learn more about CEDIK at the University of Kentucky: https://cedik.ca.uky.edu

Learn more about USDA Rural Development: https://www.rd.usda.gov/