The general purpose of this RFP is to obtain a consultant or team of consultants to complete a Growth Community Improvement Plan (Growth CIP) for the Town of Hearst (TOH). The purpose of the Growth CIP should examine issues, opportunities and constraints associated with the attraction, retention and development of our community’s labour force and housing supply. It is also meant to gain a better understanding of housing gaps within the Hearst region. These gaps have a significant impact on the economic and social well-being of our residents and businesses and we are committed to finding solutions.
The expectation of this assessment is that it should be completed over 6 months and should include detailed population and housing forecast, socio-economic breakdown, modelling options for types of dwelling (single family, duplex, and multi-unit) and labour force study. The outcome of the process should be a written sustainable community plan that presents the planning process, the research, the analysis, opportunities and strategies along with the implementation plan that should guide the TOH for years to come.
The Growth CIP should be developed in close collaboration with a Steering Committee and should include opportunities for engagement with the general public. Engagement activities could include community surveys and in-person or virtual engagement events. The CIP should include a vision, goals and objectives, identify servicing/program options, set out municipal leadership and implementation strategies, as well as the establishment of financial and non-financial incentive programs to facilitate private-sector investment. This RFP requests the services of a consultant to facilitate the planning process and build all CIP documents. The TOH is aware that there is a variety of perspectives, models and approaches available to develop a community planning document. Therefore, the successful firm should be able to distinguish which model or models would best suit the TOH and its goals.
