In this quarter’s The Next American City, writer Carly Berwick has a great piece on Paducah, Kentucky’s use of an arts and sustainability program to drive urban re-development. Paducah, a town of 26,000, has a program called ‘the Artist Relocation Program’. ” The city-sponsored Artist Relocation Program gives artists financial incentives to come to Paducah, including fully financing the purchase and rehabilitation of historic homes…” The City combines public and philanthropic funds to purchase abandoned properties with historic and architectural value - and turns them over to artists who move into the city. The artists, who are expected to rehabilitate the homes, can receive a combination of grants and low interest loans for planning, design, and reconstruction. So far, 70 artists have relocated to the town, refurnished homes and pursued their art business in the town.

Chris Carmody / Carmody & Company
www.christophercarmody.com