I'm not from there, but you might want to check out the "Art You Can Sit On" projects in Idaho Falls (population 61,000).  These "art bench" projects caught the eye of one our Public Art Advisory Committee members who was travelling in the region and we've been looking to transplant the concept to our area ever since.  The program was started in 2006 and has had several rounds subsequently.  It is my understanding the artist proposals that were selected received $3,000 to support their fabrication and installation.  That amount might have to be adjusted if transplanted to a different municipality, but the concept might be worth considering.  Following are some relevant links:

In addition, you might also consider installation of public art projects on traffic signal boxes - those rectangular metal cabinets that house the electronics controlling adjacent traffic signals that are typically found either freestanding on a concrete pad or mounted on the traffic signal pole itself.  There are numerous municipalities of various sizes around the country - including Missoula, MT; Indianapolis, IN, Mankato, MN, and Stamford, CT -  that have launched projects using these signal cabinets as the "canvas" for art installations.  You need to obtain permission from the appropriate government agency responsible for the installation and maintenance of the signal boxes, but the fact that so many projects have been successfully installed in so many different areas of the country makes it easier to secure such approvals.  Typically one of two methods is used for installation of the artist's design - either direct painting by the artist on site or via application of digitally printed vinyl wrap usually by an experienced vendor contracted for that purpose.  If you Google "Traffic Signal Box Public Art Projects" you should find a number of different links, but following is a link to the webpage for such projects in my municipality, Huntington, NY (if you have any questions about these, please contact me as indicated below):