Proposal Opportunity: CEO Now A. CEO Now Program Scope, Timeline and Budget The HCHRA is seeking a proposer to design and implement the next generation of the CEO Now program, which consists of facilitated cohort-based learning and guided training designed for established, growthminded business owners to build and strengthen systems to keep their businesses growing. Eligible business owners participate in CEO Now at no cost; the HCHRA fully covers the cost of the program. The County has successfully offered CEO Now since 2023, serving over 50 local businesses, and is now seeking a new organization to provide a refreshed curriculum and deliver the in-person program experience in 2026. 2 The successful Proposer will provide their own unique curriculum and facilitation methods that meet the objectives and deliver similar outcomes as those described here: CEO Now. The successful proposal will be expected to deliver the CEO Now program through a variety of effective methods, such as group-based instruction and facilitated peer-to-peer learning. • Number of businesses to serve: at least 20 total in 1 cohort • Profile of business participants in CEO Now: o 1-20 employees o between $250,000 and $2 million in revenue • Timeframe: between March and November 2026 • Funding available for this contract: up to $80,000 B. CEO Now Proposer Expectations It is expected that Proposers will 1. describe their proposed curriculum and supporting rationale for the curriculum, including, but not limited to, the following topics: business strategy finances leadership human resources marketing the sales process 2. describe their delivery methods, such as guided trainings, facilitated discussions, etc. 3. demonstrate how their proposed curriculum will support each business in the creation of a 3-5-year growth plan by the end of the program term. C. CEO Now Tasks The successful Proposer will be responsible for the following tasks. 1. Program set up. Provide final program details (including baseline assessment tool, curriculum, schedule, supporting materials, etc.) for HCHRA review, and assist the HCHRA with review of application forms and interviews of business owners who apply to participate in the program 2. Baseline assessment. Conduct an individual business assessment of each participating business to serve as the baseline for growth and to guide instruction and facilitation methods. The completed assessment results will be provided to the HCHRA as a deliverable. 3. Curriculum and instruction. With an experienced instructor/facilitator, the successful proposer will implement the program as proposed to address the key business topics described above in Section 1.2 B, providing all technical and subject matter expertise and coordinating all associated logistics (unless otherwise noted) for any necessary one-on-one support with each business. The HCHRA will be responsible for securing the venue for all cohort sessions at the HCHRA’s expense. 4. Facilitated peer-to-peer learning. Design and implement shared learning methods among the cohort of participating businesses based on best practices that foster peer-to-peer learning and/or facilitated discussion. Proposers should include the number, frequency, and proposed time commitment for cohort learning. 5. Business growth framework. Provide a framework that the business owner can utilize to create a strategic 3-5-year growth plan, drawing on the in-class learnings and out-of-class work. The framework should consist of a plan with comprehensive milestones that each business can tailor to their own unique growth trajectory. Frameworks will be provided to the HCHRA as deliverables.
