Cohort Members

The Design Learning Cohort program was established in 2019, with an inaugural group of 23 communities. Since then the program continues to engage 20-25 communities from across the U.S. on a biannual basis, bringing unique experiences and shared design challenges to the CIRD conversation. (list below is organized by state)

City of Eufala

City of Eufala

Eufala
,
Alabama
2019
Southern small town tackling transportation, pedestrian safety, and connectivity.

Skagway Development Corporation

Skagway Development Corporation

Skagway
,
Alaska
2021
There are very few design professionals in Southeast Alaska, and this team is driven to improve their expertise on planning and community design for the residents they serve.

Sitka Tribe of Alaska

Sitka Tribe of Alaska

Sitka
,
Alaska
2023
The Sitka Tribe is eager to tap design best practices as it seeks to address long-term infrastructure needs tied to the burgeoning cruise ship industry in the community.

Eastern Sierra Artists

Eastern Sierra Artists

Bishop
,
California
2019
Small group of local artists looking to inspire a creative arts economy.

Surprise Valley Educational Foundation

Surprise Valley Educational Foundation

Cedarville
,
California
2021
Main Street in Cedarville, CA has no visitor's center, chamber of commerce, or welcome center. This passionate team seeks expert advise to grow their capacity.

Siskiyou County Economic Development Council

Siskiyou County Economic Development Council

Yreka
,
California
2023
Yreka and Siskiyou County seek design assistance and creative placemaking best practices to ensure the viability of the West Miner Historic District.

Dancing Spirit Community Arts Center

Dancing Spirit Community Arts Center

Ignacio
,
Colorado
2019
Community-led arts center developing a fundraising plan to serve rural youth.

Huerfano County Economic Development Inc.

Huerfano County Economic Development Inc.

Walsenburg
,
Colorado
2019
Town of 3,000 in eastern Colorado looking for economic development through Main Street and connection to artists.

Cortez Cultural Center

Cortez Cultural Center

Cortez
,
Colorado
2023
The Cortez Cultural Center seeks community input as it revitalizes a downtown outdoor community arts venue that serves a broad swath of the community.

Economic Council of Okeechobee, Inc.

Economic Council of Okeechobee, Inc.

Okeechobee
,
Florida
2019
County effort to increase livability through connection to trails, waterfronts, and recreation.

Sebring Community Redevelopment Agency

Sebring Community Redevelopment Agency

Sebring
,
Florida
2019
To build on existing trails and parks, this agricultural community is connecting to design experts.

action pact

action pact

Waycross
,
Georgia
2019
Community-focused agency responding to needs assessment by addressing transportation concerns.

Manchester Development Authority

Manchester Development Authority

Manchester
,
Georgia
2021
This team is working to develop a comprehensive revitalization strategy for an eleven-acre old textile mill property in an exemplary adaptive re-use project.

Reimagine Mendota

Reimagine Mendota

Mendota
,
Illinois
2023
A comprehensive approach to Main Street improvement undergirds Reimagine Mendota's work as it engages a community emerging from recent fires that destroyed downtown retail space and affordable homes.

Thrive Allen County, Inc.

Thrive Allen County, Inc.

Iola
,
Kansas
2019
Organization in southeastern Kansas seeking technical assistance to develop affordable housing plan.

The Building Community

The Building Community

Fredonia
,
Kansas
2023
Fredonia wants to revitalize its downtown square to recapture historic character while bolstering affordable housing and business opportunities.

Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative

Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative

Hazard
,
Kentucky
2019
Innovative education group in heart of Appalachia expanding connections to design issues.

Sharpsburg Design Studio

Sharpsburg Design Studio

Sharpsburg
,
Kentucky
2023
A centrally-located 1-acre lot purchased by the Blue Grass Community Foundation offers a path to meeting locally-identified needs, including affordable housing.

Snow Pond Center for the Arts

Snow Pond Center for the Arts

Sidney
,
Maine
2019
Arts Center in scenic Maine looking to use design thinking to attract young residents.

Main Street Skowhegan

Main Street Skowhegan

Skowhegan
,
Maine
2021
The Kennebec River runs next to Skowhegan, offering opportunities to connect residents to recreation.

Heart of Ellsworth

Heart of Ellsworth

Ellsworth
,
Maine
2023
Ellsworth seeks to address the underutilization of the Union River, one of the community's best natural assets.

Town of Van Buren

Town of Van Buren

Van Buren
,
Maine
2023
Van Buren seeks to create a tranportation hub that drives economic growth. Early discussions of the hub have noted the town's Acadian heritagee.

Village of Marcellus DDA

Village of Marcellus DDA

Marcellus
,
Michigan
2023
Half of Marcellus' Main Street storefronts are inactive and the Downtown Development Authority seeks design best practices with an eye on tourism and attracting entrepreneurs to the community.

Community Economic Development Associates

Community Economic Development Associates

Zumbrota
,
Minnesota
2023
The arts are an economic driver in Zumbrota and the community seeks to solidify the Zumbrota Arts District.

McComb Creative Economy Partnership

McComb Creative Economy Partnership

McComb
,
Mississippi
2019
Mississippi group bringing assistance to adaptive re-use of the Pike School of Arts.

City of Excelsior Springs

City of Excelsior Springs

Excelsior Springs
,
Missouri
2019
Rural town fighting for preservation of their historic Hall of Waters.

Kimball Area Tourism

Kimball Area Tourism

Kimball
,
Nebraska
2021
Looking to bring together multiple municipalities in Nebraska, this group hopes to receive coaching on their approach to community engagement.

Navajo Townsite Community Development Corporation

Navajo Townsite Community Development Corporation

Navajo
,
New Mexico
2021
Members of the Navajo Nation, this CDC typically works in affordable housing and is interested in learning what can be done to revitalize their community.

Clay County Historical Arts Commission

Clay County Historical Arts Commission

Hayesville
,
North Carolina
2019
Residents in rural North Carolina consider adaptive re-use for preservation and artistic connectivity.

Divide County Economic Development Council, Inc.

Divide County Economic Development Council, Inc.

Crosby
,
North Dakota
2019
Nearly 200 miles from the nearest metropolitan area, Crosby, ND seeks to learn more about beautification of the built environment.

Carrington Economic Development

Carrington Economic Development

Carrington
,
North Dakota
2021
Carrington, North Dakota is motivated to connect with Main Street experts to enhance the historic heart of their community downtown.

City of Chillicothe

City of Chillicothe

Chillicothe
,
Ohio
2021
A historical armory building built in 1926 unites Chillicothe to bring planning and community engagement into the preservation and adaptive reuse of the Armory.

City of Bowling Green

City of Bowling Green

Bowling Green
,
Ohio
2023
Bowling Green seeks an enhanced downtown pedestrian experience via alley beautifation, signage, wayfinding, and public art.

Tablertown People of Color Museum

Tablertown People of Color Museum

Stuart
,
Ohio
2023
Tablertown was established by enslaved persons in the 1830s. The Tablertown People of Color Museum seeks to preserve the community's legacy while stengthening the community's civic fabric.

Woodward Arts & Theatre Council, Inc.

Woodward Arts & Theatre Council, Inc.

Woodward
,
Oklahoma
2019
Main Street in Woodward needs design assistance for improved transportation, landscaping, and facade improvement.

Project G.A.I.N.

Project G.A.I.N.

Hugo
,
Oklahoma
2023
Project G.A.I.N. seeks a viable space for teens and the community to gather while helping to break generational cycles of poverrty.

Seminole Arts Council

Seminole Arts Council

Seminole
,
Oklahoma
2023
Seminole Arts Council seeks a multi-use space that depicts and preserves Seminole's history and culture while also serving as a performance venue.

A Greater Applegate

A Greater Applegate

Jacksonville
,
Oregon
2023
A Greater Applegate seeks to link placemaking with a community hub strategy that brings together a range of services along Highway 238.

Battery Park Alumni Association

Battery Park Alumni Association

Nesmith
,
South Carolina
2021
This group of alumni from the rural south are transforming a former school building to a community center and hoping to engage with peers facing similar challenges.

City of San Elizario

City of San Elizario

San Elizario
,
Texas
2019
A newly incorporated frontier town, San Elizario is ready to understand design thinking for the improvement of its historic corridor.

Junction Texas Economic Development Corp.

Junction Texas Economic Development Corp.

Junction
,
Texas
2021
The City of Junction is examining the best approaches to a multi-use outdoor space along the Llano River.

City of Dalhart

City of Dalhart

Dalhart
,
Texas
2023
A focus on revitalization and preservation best practices will help Dalhart achieve the Texas Main Street designation.

Town of Bluff

Town of Bluff

Bluff
,
Utah
2021
Connecting with rural peers will hopefully assist this newly incorporated town transform route 191 into a walkable Main Street.

Town of Scottsville

Town of Scottsville

Scottsville
,
Virginia
2019
A small riverfront community considers how to balance the old and the new.

Shenandoah County Office of Economic Development

Shenandoah County Office of Economic Development

Woodstock
,
Virginia
2019
Local governments plan to work together to improve social cohesion and wayfinding across the county.

Buena Vista City

Buena Vista City

Buena Vista
,
Virginia
2021
This small town in the Blue Ridge mountains is coming together to plan enhancements along a 3-mile gravel walking trail along the river, including signage, public art, and amenities.

Town of Fries

Town of Fries

Fries
,
Virginia
2021
Creating access to a walking trail, connecting to Main Street, and adding amenities along the New River are just a few things on the agenda for Town of Fries.

Patrick County Chamber of Commerce

Patrick County Chamber of Commerce

Stuart
,
Virginia
2021
Improvements to the Downtown Stuart Historic District will invite innovative approaches to revitalization, recommendations to accessible infrastructures, and opportunities for healthier lifestyles.

NCW Economic Development District

NCW Economic Development District

Entiat
,
Washington
2019
For this Pacific Northwest region, improvements to infrastructure would benefit recreation and small business development.

City of Ilwaco, Downtown Ilwaco Revitalization Committee

City of Ilwaco, Downtown Ilwaco Revitalization Committee

Ilwaco
,
Washington
2023
Ilwaco seeks a walking path between Port of Ilwaco's waterfront and Black Lake. The proposed path will bring easier access for visitors and locals alike.

Driftless Development, Inc.

Driftless Development, Inc.

Prairie Du Chein
,
Wisconsin
2021
Among often isolated communities, this Wisconsin team seeks to create a unifying Historic Mural Trail Project to bring arts to rural spaces.

Laramie Main Street

Laramie Main Street

Laramie
,
Wyoming
2019
Small but growing frontier town seeks to develop Main Street through the arts and assist small business owners.

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