City Council Meeting Date: September 8, 2026
To: Mayor and Members of Council
From: Ben Martig, City Administrator
Title
Consider Resolution Approving Professional Service Contract with Merchant McIntyre.
Body
Action Requested:
The City Council is asked to approve a Resolution authorizing a professional services agreement with Merchant McIntyre Associates to assist the City in identifying and pursuing federal funding.
Summary Report:
Merchant McIntyre Associates provides federal funding assistance to local governments and other organizations, including identifying federal grant opportunities, developing funding strategies, supporting grant applications, pursuing Congressional earmarks, and assisting with federal funding requests.
Staff met with representatives from Merchant McIntyre to discuss the City's priorities and potential federal funding opportunities. The proposed engagement is consistent with the City's adopted strategic and long-range planning framework. The 2025-2028 Strategic Plan identifies financial strength and revenue diversification as a strategic priority, including a goal of increasing non-tax and non-intergovernmental revenue. The Northfield 2045 Comprehensive Plan identifies funding decisions and grant applications as important implementation tools and calls for the City to incorporate plan recommendations into capital planning and budgeting. Merchant McIntyre's work would provide additional capacity and expertise to identify and pursue external funding opportunities that can help advance these adopted priorities while leveraging local resources.
Merchant McIntyre has proposed an initial 90-day engagement during which it will conduct a Resource Inventory, develop a Federal Funding Strategy and Grants Grid, arrange meetings with Congressional and federal agency staff, and provide assistance with federal grant development and applications. The firm will also assist the City in evaluating and pursuing potential FY28 Community Projec...
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