DeSoto County is seeking a consultant/ partner to create a Strategic Action Plan for downtown Arcadia and retail development. This will include a workshop to include a boots-on-the-ground analysis, public engagement, stakeholder input, and community collaboration, which, along with customized market research, will inform the creation of the 5-Year Strategic Plan, which is designed to be highly implementable in nature, practical, and customized. In the 5- Year Strategic Plan, there are recommendations based on three stages of time and monetary investment: • little to no cost with immediate impact – just time and energy • minimal investment that requires proper partnerships & persistence • long-term investment for substantial projects. This approach allows for the team to build capacity, assemble additional funds, and generate partnerships for successful implementation of the plan. Once the plan is adopted, the partner consultant will facilitate the launch of a Local Action Team to create a sustainable framework of implementation. The consultant will also provide technical support to the team as they prioritize the implementation of an initial strategy, in addition to supporting the efforts of the Local Action Team.
