RFP to be issued for Sustainable Communities grant

For public engagement

David Crossley, Feb 08, 11.

The Houston-Galveston Area Council has posted an advance notification of its intent to issue a Request for Proposal for the public engagement process in the region’s $3.75 million Sustainable Communities grant program. The purpose of the program is to develop a Regional Plan for Sustainable Development for the 13-country Gulf Coast Planning Region of Texas. The notification says, in part:

On behalf of the Coordinating Committee, H-GAC will release a request for proposals in late February or early March. The proposal will request that consultant teams respond with innovative, proven strategies for facilitating public engagement and marketing components of similar comprehensive regional plans.

Some tasks that the consultant will be asked to complete include, but are not limited to:

* Develop strategies to engage all communities, including traditionally under-engaged and underserved people
* Design a process and accompanying educational materials for leadership training sessions
* Develop a media and messaging strategy that will generate interest and participation
* Design web-based tools that allow people to participate in various elements of the planning process in an engaging and user-friendly format
* Design activities to be conducted at public meetings and visioning sessions to gain hands-on participation of residents.
* Effectively work with the Coordinating Committee of local government and nonprofit partners to leverage skills and resources available with the represented agencies and organizations.