Planning Study Strategy/Model Development Consulting Services for the Department of Economic Development
I. BACKGROUND
There have been a variety of economic impact studies over the last few years documenting the
benefits to communities of buying local. Buying local not only retains and re-circulates
consumer dollars within the community, but also assists in the creation of additional jobs for
that community. Montgomery County is no exception which is why the Montgomery County
Department of Economic Development has always and continues to promote the County's
economic growth by advocating for sustainable local programs and practices such as the Buy
Local Agricultural Challenge and the County's Local Small Business Reserve Program.
Montgomery County would like to undertake an assessment of its current "buy local" programs, its
current strategies for promoting those programs, and understand the business population that is
utilizing these programs to determine the impact. The County hopes to utilize this information
to strengthen and expand its programs. The expected outcome is a strategic plan that engages
the largest public and private entities within the County, leveraging new economic opportunities
to increase participation with the goal of having every County entity buying local at some
level. Doing so would boost job creation for Montgomery County in the coming years.
In a related need to promote a job creation, particularly within small businesses, Montgomery
County desires a study that reviews potential models and approaches to creating local jobs and
job training opportunities prior to or during redevelopment, including relevant case examples in
Montgomery County as well as innovative models from other local and national jurisdictions.
Due to the large scope of such study, this solicitation will limit the study to the Wheaton area,
where the redevelopment is imminent.
II. PURPOSE AND INTENT
The County intends to enter into a contractual relationship with one qualified offeror to provide consulting services the results of which will enable the County to implement the rollout of an expanded, County wide buy local program, and clear recommendations for creating
local jobs and job training opportunities prior to or during redevelopment in Wheaton,
Montgomery County.
