Community and Regional Planning Program Director and Professor Zhenghong Tang and his research team were just awarded a USDA grant to create an actionable placemaking plan for the Knox County, Nebraska area. The proposed project will create an actionable placemaking plan through asset and infrastructure mapping, strategic planning and capacity building. This community and economic development efforts will focus on tourism, recreation and planning technical assistance for the Knox County area communities, COVID-19 economic recovery efforts, and capitalization of recent regional investments in recreation and broadband infrastructure. The population will be served by this project through the development of a place-based plan that will define the tourism strategy for the region and county, analyze tourism assets and supporting infrastructure, and create a detailed narrative about opportunities in the region. Communities will be trained for placemaking implementation and identification of possible USDA grant opportunities. Matching funds are being provided by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Knox County Economic Development. Tang will serve as a Co-PI for this project.