Specifications include, but are not limited to: • Provide a quantitative analysis of national perception of the Cedar Rapids Metro among prospective talent and businesses; • Assist in the development of a new talent attraction strategy using relevant methodologies appropriate for the current economic times; • Engage actively with current community and economic development partners to identify areas where the communities can leverage current initiatives to assist with the attraction of talent; • Evaluate targeted industries to identify the most effective locations to draw talent pools in an effort to increase confidence in additional investment and growth in the Cedar Rapids Metro; • Make appropriate recommendations to support development of a future marketing communications plan that represents the community’s assets and speaks directly to the highest priorities for individuals considering relocation; • Identify avenues to engage current businesses and residents in talent attraction with the intention of generating buy-in and involvement in the overall marketing and promotion of the Cedar Rapids Metro. The primary scope of services for the talent attraction firm will include but may not be limited to the following: • Conduct a comprehensive talent attraction analysis necessary to support a data-driven marketing plan, which combines best available sources of market information with relevant analytics (e.g., demographics/psychographic segmentation) to produce new insights into Cedar Rapid’s overall growth initiative. • Identify proven methods of public engagement to provide an attraction strategy that will include community partners, and residents within the Cedar Rapids Metro. • Provide specific, actionable and evidence-based recommendations for how the communities within the Cedar Rapids Metro should invest available marketing resources including, but not limited to: modifications/development of their respective digital presence, external media advertising, events where communities would have the opportunity to reach targeted populations and identification of an overall brand accurately representing communities’ identity to a broad audience. • Provide the respective Economic Development Services staff the ability to actively monitor impact of tactics through a dashboard or other means, include access to raw data collected during research, and provide individual performance indicators to measure the effectiveness of each recommended investment. • Create a roadmap documenting the steps to implementation of a talent attraction initiative including a prioritization of recommendations. • Create a data-driven goal for population growth to the Cedar Rapids Metro population that ties to the listed recommendations. • Present findings to participating cities governing bodies (i.e. City Council Meeting) and the regional stakeholder group.
