Rural Land Bank Learning Exchange

This learning exchange offers rural land bank leaders and partners an opportunity to connect and discuss the unique challenges and explore strategies for addressing vacancy in their communities.

As of 2024, more than 300 urban, suburban, and rural land banks across the United States help communities tackle vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated properties. Rural land banks are a core part of this field.

According to the National Land Bank Network’s (NLBN) latest State of Land Banking survey, over 30 percent of respondents identify their geography as rural or part-rural, and nearly 25 percent of land bank inventories nationwide are located in rural areas. However, these organizations face unique challenges—such as a lack of sufficient funding, capacity, and infrastructure—because resources are often funneled to densely populated metropolitan areas.

As the only national organization committed to the advancement and support of land banks and land banking, NLBN is committed to uplifting communities of all geographies. To directly support these efforts, NLBN launched the Rural Land Bank Learning Exchange.

Applications Closed

For questions about Rural Land Bank Learning Exchange, please contact Christina Carter-Grant, Associate Director of the National Land Bank Network, at [email protected].

About the Learning Exchange

During the learning exchange, rural land bank leaders and their partners will learn from field experts and each other through a virtual session and in-person site visit. The learning exchange is designed to build stronger relationships among the participating land banks, inspire and workshop equitable and effective solutions, and provide ongoing support from national experts. The content and structure of the learning exchange will be customized to selected participants.

The application period for the Rural Land Bank Learning Exchange has passed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to apply for the Rural Land Bank Learning Exchange?

(1) Any rural land bank or land banking program; (2) located in an area where property vacancy, abandonment, and disinvestment are a significant challenge to the community; that (3) is a member of the National Land Bank Network is eligible to apply. Priority will be given to applicants who demonstrate engagement with residents and other community partners.

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What qualifies as a “rural” land bank or land banking program?

Who should be in my delegation?

Your delegation can include up to four participants, including the lead applicant. Land bank staff, land bank board members, land bank residents and community advisory committee members, and other community partners (elected officials, local government partners, nonprofits, etc.) should be considered as possible delegation members. Ideally, the delegation should be comprised of at least one land bank staff member alongside other community members who can meaningfully collaborate with you to tackle your community’s VAD challenges.

When are applications due and when will I be notified?

What is required of my delegation?

Participants will be required to:

Attend a “meet and greet” kick-off call.
Participate in a two and a half day on-site learning exchange.
Participate in a virtual learning session.
Attend the Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference and the onsite participant gathering.
Participate in a year-end wrap-up call.
Participate in up to three follow-up surveys and/or phone calls following completion of the learning exchange and the Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference.

When and where will the learning exchange take place?

What can I expect at the learning exchange?

The learning exchange will offer:

Presentations from experts in the land banking field, customized based on the interests of selected participants.
Discussions between participants on topics pertinent to rural land banks, including programming, operations, funding, and board governance.
A mobile workshop, visiting work on the ground and project sites of the local land bank or land banking program and community partners.
Ample opportunities to learn, share, and connect with staff and partners from other rural land banks.

What does this opportunity cost?

When and where do I apply?

Applications Closed

For questions about Rural Land Bank Learning Exchange, please contact Christina Carter-Grant, Associate Director of the National Land Bank Network, at [email protected].

Questions?

For questions about Rural Land Bank Learning Exchange, please contact Christina Carter-Grant, Associate Director of the National Land Bank Network, at [email protected].

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