DATE: March 21, 2019
TO: Members of the Economic Development Authority
FROM: Nate Carlson, Economic Development Coordinator
Mikayla Schmidt, Community Development Specialist
Title
Consider motion to approve draft RFP for consulting services
Body
SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUESTED:
The EDA shall make a motion to approve the draft RFP for consulting services with a budget up to $10,000 and begin soliciting consultants.
BACKGROUND:
The Northfield EDA Socio-Economic Sub-Committee has met three times over the course of the past six months. The membership of the committee consists of EDA Members Jessica Peterson-White, Rachel Leatham, and Vice President Andrew Ehrmann; Staff members Nate Carlson and Mikayla Schmidt; Human Rights Commissioner Mar Valdecantos. The Committee charge is to "address current conditions for minority, women and veteran owned business" in Northfield.
Over the course of the past three meetings, Committee members have discussed the work plan and objectives of the Committee. Committee members have agreed that it is imperative that information gathering be conducted prior to any Committee recommendations for new services and/or programs be offered by the EDA. The Committee also agreed that addressing conditions for minority/immigrant/foreign-born business owners is the most urgent area of concern.
The Committee reviewed the "Prosperity Initiative" program that is being offered by the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF). The program was designed to offer business coaching to Southeast Minnesota minority-owned businesses. The Committee invited the program representative, Chad Poitra, to a meeting to discuss the program. Staff and Committee members appreciated the program as an opportunity to potentially partner with SMIF on the issue of gauging current conditions for minority-owned businesses.
Unfortunately, staff received notice from Mr. Poitra that due to program funding being cut by SMIF that he had resigned from his position...
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