Specifications include, but are not limited to: The City of Cedar Rapids (“City”) invites nonprofit organizations, having an interest in advancing growth and prosperity within the community (collectively “Proposer”) to submit project Proposals (“Proposal”) for Economic Development Implementation Grant awards. I. ECONOMIC DEVEOPMENT PROJECT & FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATIONS A. Coordinate initial response to any site search data requests received by staff in the Economic Development Services Division. i. Scope of response activity will include data requests made through Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Requests for Information (RFI) and/or other project selection processes. ii. Application tracking, timely reporting of outcomes to City staff, and overall performance measurement will be required components of program administration. B. Submit applications on behalf of Cedar Rapids companies seeking state economic development program awards: i. Assist local companies with initial tasksrequired to determine eligibility for grant funding such as completing an IEDA Iowa Project Questionnaire (IPQ). ii. Submit program applications for businesses relating to post-disaster recovery programs iii. Submit program applications for businesses as part of ongoing response to COVID-19 disruption. iv. Prepare and submit all required documents and supporting materials necessary to secure funding through grant applications. v. Examples of past, relevant work include but are not limited to the following: IEDA Redevelopment Tax Credits Program for Brownfield and Grayfield Sites IEDA Workforce Housing Tax Credits New Market Tax Credits (NMTC) Iowa DOT RISE grants Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) grant programs Post-disaster recovery grants or loans Any and all other applicable assistance programsrelating to City economic development goals and objectives C. Provide general and specialized consulting services, including technical assistance to help guide companies through various economic development grant application processes. At a minimum, services provided shall encompass pre-planning for or evaluation of funding opportunities, process coordination for applicant, submittal of grant applications, communication with funding agency staff as well as compliance phase reporting when an award is received. D. Prepare grant applicationsto pursue economic development funding opportunities on behalf of Cedar Rapids as directed by City staff. E. Act as fiscal agent (as needed) for administration of grant awards. II. SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT A. Create flexible small business support programming. i. Any initiative(s) should seek to increase both the number of small businesses headquartered in Cedar Rapids as well as the percentage of total citywide employment resulting from small business growth.
