Rural communities often do not have the financial or technical capacity to undertake major planning exercises. At the same time, there is growing interest on the part of rural researchers to engage in community outreach activities, such as action research. Students and a faculty member from Brock University’s Department of Geographyhave been involved in an innovative partnership with a small rural Ontario municipality that has resulted in the creation of a new official land use plan for the community. Allpartners – the students, faculty member, and municipality – have benefitted from this project, suggesting that its replication in other settings could bring forth similar benefits.