Economic Development Strategy Consultant

90664-018.0 RFP Document (PDF, 386KB)

The selected consultant will be expected to provide services identified below in the development of an economic development strategy. The items listed represent the minimum services expected to be performed. In your response to the Request for Proposals (RFP), identify other related services that you will provide, if applicable.

Consultant will extract essential data from existing documents (master plan and related planning documents) and supplement it with the insights necessary to describe a compelling business case for attracting investment and new jobs. At its core, the economic development strategy describes a vision, goals, strategies, and actions that will create an environment that encourages bold development-related ventures and entrepreneurial spirit.

Attend and Facilitate Meetings

1. The consultant will be asked to attend at least 2 in-person meetings of the Economic Development Corporation.

2. All other meetings with City Staff can be done via Teams or Zoom.

3. The consultant will hold at least 3 different community stakeholder groups with participants such as: economic development professionals and partners, developers, financial institutions (private and philanthropic), anchor institutions, real estate professionals, business owners.

4. Please include cost for attending additional in-person meetings in your fee structure as well in case additional presentations are needed.

Aggregate all applicable economic development data from existing plans.

Consultant will extract essential data from stakeholder meetings and existing documents (master plan and related planning documents) and supplement it with the insights necessary to describe a compelling business case for attracting investment and new jobs. At its core, the economic development strategy describes a vision, goals, strategies, and actions that will create an environment that encourages bold development-related ventures and entrepreneurial spirit.

Synthesize all Data into an easily accessible and usable format.

Deliverables

1. Creation of an Economic Development Strategy that: adheres to the guide supplied by the MEDC (see link above), the entire community is a part of, and is a roadmap for the City’s Economic Development moving forward.

Contract Period

The City of Kalamazoo’s Economic Development Department envisions the Notice to Proceed on this contract will be on or around July 1, 2023, and the contract will be fulfilled by December 31, 2023.