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City of ChicagoBusiness Affairs and Consumer Protection

Draft – Staff policy deliberation – Not for circulation

Neighborhood Small Business Challenge

Bidders Conference

March 31st, 20149:30am – 10:30am • City Hall

Neighborhood Tourism Plan RFP Technology Training RFP Corridor Makeover RFP



Agenda

Small Business Center Vision

RFP Goals, Deliverables, and Evaluation

Program FAQs

Application Process Overview and FAQs

Q&A


Why a Neighborhood Small Business Challenge?

Create a funding competition to expand neighborhood‐based business supports:

Boost neighborhood tourism

Deliver technology solutions to businesses

Drive customer traffic with attractive corridors

Business counseling through local NBDCs

Neighborhood economic vitality

Foster neighborhood engagement locally

Making neighborhoods safer for business

Neighborhood Small Business Strategy



Why Neighborhood Tourism Plans?

Goals• To market and attract visitors to Chicago’s neighborhoods

• To develop tourist‐ready neighborhoods

• To promote economic vitality for businesses

• To engage leaders and stakeholders with a shared vision for tourism

Impacts• Business profitability

• Access to capital

• Neighborhood‐wide economic benefit

• Conservation of neighborhood assets

Partners• City’s Small Business Center

• Choose Chicago®

• Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE)

• Department of Planning and Development (DPD)

• Local stakeholders

• Subject Matter Experts



Neighborhood Tourism Plan Deliverables

Outreach & Engagement Plan

• Local stakeholders• Common vision• Ownership

Tourism Demand and Supply Analysis

• Local competitiveness• Tourist profile• Local assets• Baseline data

Action Plan & Implementation

• Technical Assistance• Website• Customer service training• Enhance local business and neighborhood brands

Advocacy & Resource Plan

• Tourism investment opportunities• Financial resources• Other resources and partners

Impact metrics

• Measure private and public impact of tourism

Tourism Plan

Tourism Action• website• training



Neighborhood Tourism Plan Evaluation

Contract

Progress on completing the Plan

Plan adoption by key stakeholders

Secured and pledged resources

Implementation of TA and website

Identified metrics

Compliance with reporting requirements

Proposal

Agency’s alignment with RFP Goals

Agency’s neighborhood “imprint” and reputation as a neighborhood leader

Agency’s capacity to execute the plan and implementation

Agency’s current online presence

Degree of potential impact

Other administrative criteria in the RFP



Why Technology Training?

Goals• To ensure that small businesses are able to compete in the global marketplace

• To deliver technology solutions with direct value to small businesses

• To fully integratetechnology solutions into a business’ operations

Impacts• Increased sales

• Reduced costs

• Increased efficiency


• Neighborhood Small Businesses

• Technology Subject Matter Experts and Industry Leaders



Technology Training Deliverables

Training Course & Qualified Provider

• Topic and syllabus• Provider resumes and client references

Business Outreach & Recruitment

• Outreach strategy• Recruit minimum 20 businesses

Conduct Trainings

• Manage and facilitate trainings

Follow‐Up & Support

• Assist business with integration of technology solution• Min 80 hrs. post‐training support

Impact metrics

• Measure increased sales, reduced costs, increased efficiency• Lessons learned, best practices

Technology Training

Business uptake of technology

Value to Businesses



Technology Training Evaluation

Contract

Progress on completing commitments

Technology integration by businesses

Business value

Other metrics identified by the NBDC


Proposal


Agency’s capacity to execute on commitments

Impact of proposed technology solution




Why Corridor Makeovers?

Goals• To drive sales and customer traffic

• To deliver makeovers with a positive neighborhood impact

• To promote economic vitality for businesses

Impacts• Business profitability

• Access to capital

• Improved “curb appeal”

• Leased vacancies

• Neighborhood economic benefit


• Department of Planning & Development

• Neighborhood Small Businesses and Landlords

•Merchandizing and Storefront Design Subject Matter Experts



Corridor Makeover Deliverables

Identify Corridor & Participants

• Targeted corridor• Engage businesses and landlords

Retain Consultants

Expertise in:• merchandizing• storefront design• signageHave good client references

Identify & Implement Improvements

• Technical assistance to businesses and landlords• Alignment with recognized design guidelines• Identify funding resources

Follow‐Up

• Ensure participant follow‐through on improvements• Training for other neighborhood businesses and landlords

Impact metrics

• Pre‐ and post photos• Business sales, customer traffic• Reduced vacancies and graffiti tags• Lessons learned, best practices

Makeover Plans

Makeovers Completed

Value to Businesses & Neighborhood



Corridor Makeover Evaluation

Proposal


Agency’s capacity to execute on commitments

Makeover impact on addressing Corridor’s problems/challenges


Ability to secure other resources to implement corridor makeovers

Contract

Progress on completing commitments

Makeover follow through by participants

Business and/or landlord value (impact on sales and customer traffic)

Other metrics identified by the NBDC




Tips for Submission

Follow the RFP instructions, especially the “Instructions for Completing a Proposal” and “Submission Guidelines”

Be the 3 C’s: Concise, Complete, Clear

No second chance to resubmit proposal documents! Ensure you submit a complete proposal

Demonstrate your capacity to make an impact and that your agency is a neighborhood leader and collaborator

Submit only the documents listed in the RFP


Financial Documents Evaluation

Agency’s State Articles of Incorporation Current Certificate of Good Standing from the

Secretary of State Copy of last 3 consecutive Form 990 submissions IRS Not-for-Profit designation 2014 Program Budget Forms




Key Dates and Contacts

All questions and application submissions must be emailed to:

[email protected] the RFP and Templates, visit:

www.cityofchicago.org/BACP under “Alerts” on the home page

Release Date Friday, March 21, 2014

Bidders Conference Monday, March 31, 2014

Questions Due Friday, April 4, 2014

Question Responses Posted Friday, April 11, 2014

Proposal Due (No late proposals or re‐submissions for proposals will be accepted)

Monday, April 21, 2014

Estimated Contract Start Date Thursday, May 15, 2014




Thank You

FAQs and Q & A



Neighborhood Tourism Plan FAQs

Can you say more what Choose Chicago’s role is? And what resources they can provide?

What indicators do we need to provide for you to determine whether we have an existing “neighborhood brand”?

Can my agency outsource the tourist‐ready technical assistance services or should we prepare to offer these in‐house?

The SSA we manage is within larger boundaries for our tourism area. Does the area for this Tourism Plan have to match SSA boundaries?

My agency manages multiple SSAs. Can I apply to do a Tourism Plan that covers multiple SSAs?

We partner with other agencies on neighborhood tourism. How would we apply to this RFP?



Technology Training FAQs

My agency is citywide and doesn’t focus on a neighborhood – can we apply?

The RFP states we provide 80‐hours of post‐training support ‐ is that by the consultant or do you expect my agency to have this in‐house knowledge? We’d like to plan for any training needs our staff may have.

How much of the technology provider vetting does the City need to know about and/or approve of?

Can we address poor access to wifi with this RFP?



Corridor Makeovers FAQs

Does the City have suggested funding sources for paying for additional improvements, especially façade or interior building improvements?

Can you say more about your expectations for the open training session for neighborhood businesses?

My agency is citywide and not neighborhood‐based, can we apply? Can I offer our services citywide or are we required to work in a particular commercial corridor?

Does the city want just individual business or property owner metrics or metrics for the entire corridor?



General FAQs

Can we apply to more than one RFP? Can I submit more than one response to one RFP?

Will I have a chance to resubmit missing or incomplete documents for my proposal?

Can we apply to any of the RFPs with partner agencies?

Do I have to be a 2014 NBDC or City delegate agency to apply?

Can I submit missing or incomplete documents for my RFP response?