Phase 1 - Discovery: Initial meeting to discuss scope and deliverables and adjust if needed to meet the goal of a strategic plan that brings all three entities into a partnership that will support the economic initiatives based on the communities they represent. The consultant will be responsible for familiarizing themselves with the programmatic approach of all three entities. This will entail: interviews with key personnel of each program understand each programmatic approach and solutions review of current and past program methods for best practices Deliverable 1: The final report and documentation will be reviewed to ensure the consultants understand each organization and that the collaboration engagement is aligned. Phase 2 – Inventorying: Additional components of the scope of work Compile a list of district designation distinctions in MA (i.e. BID, Cultural District, TDI, Historic District, TIF, DIF, Parking Benefits District, Vacant Storefront District, Destination Marketing District, etc.) and a brief overview of each. The data ideally could be collected in a format where all the district designations could be mapped to see overlaps across the programs. Identify potential regional and statewide agencies, and their programs (i.e. MAPC, the BARR Foundation, and Community Foundations), offering targeted support to downtowns and district entities that could provide greater assistance to this collaboration. Identify potential partnerships and programs between state agencies that have a natural or potential connection to or interest in downtowns. Phase 3 – Action Plan: A strategic plan that consists of recommendations detailing how the three organizations can collaborate to support each other’s efforts, and to further the efforts of communities and municipalities throughout the Commonwealth. This will include but not be limited to a draft Action Plan and roadmap between the collaborators, a listing of roles and responsibilities, and examples of institutionalizing implementation going forward. General state policy recommendations on the successful growth of this partnership collaboration. Recommendations on core competencies or staffing needed to execute the growth of this partnership.
