Renaissance Strategic Visioning and Planning (RSVP)

Renaissance Strategic Visioning and Planning

After a decade, the Renaissance Strategic Visioning and Planning Process (RSVP) continues to impact communities across the state. The unique strategic planning process developed by the Institute of Government helps re-envision downtowns, invigorate citizen involvement, and jumpstart economic development. The program is a partnership between the UGA Institute of Government, the Georgia Municipal Association, and the Georgia Cities Foundation, with additional support from the Lyndhurst Foundation.

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The RSVP 3-Step Process

The Downtown Renaissance Strategic Visioning and Planning (RSVP) helps downtowns through the creation of a community-supported vision, plan, and implementation program. The RSVP is both a downtown master planning process and a downtown planning document that illustrates the community’s vision for the future and provides the steps to get there. Driven by a robust public input process that seeks the participation of all community members, RSVPs help local governments and community partners prioritize top downtown issues and work to establish a consensus around both short- and long-term goals.

The RSVP Advantage

The development of the implementation plan is a critical and unique component of the RSVP master plan process. The plan provides a unique checklist to guide the community forward–listing partners, responsibilities, the timeline, funding sources, steps to take, and obstacles to implementation. The plan’s details add accountability, and community members know who is responsible for each action item.

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Sample Reports

Georgia Downtown Renaissance Partnership

The Renaissance Strategic Visioning and Planning process is a component of the Georgia Downtown Renaissance Partnership, which combines resources of university and municipal organizations to help community-led efforts to revitalize Georgia downtowns.

Since 2013, the Georgia Downtown Renaissance Partnership has brought a collaborative planning approach to over 60 cities across Georgia and neighboring states.

Through program elements like the Renaissance Strategic Vision and Planning (RSVP) process, the Georgia Downtown Renaissance Fellowship, and collaborative studio courses with the UGA College of Environment and Design, the Georgia Downtown Renaissance Partnership helps provide the tools for communities to realize their visions and  maximize their potential.