Community-based CDCs are a necessary part of the infrastructure needed to facilitate change in Cincinnati’s communities. HomeBase and the City of Cincinnati seek to build and support this infrastructure to achieve greater outcomes in housing production, business district revitalization, and neighborhood place-making. To facilitate these outcomes, Homebase and the City of Cincinnati are seeking the development of a comprehensive strategic plan that outlines CDC structure and operating models as well as the community development ecosystem in Cincinnati communities.

HomeBase is the network of CDCs in Cincinnati. The organization’s mission is to strengthen organizations that enhance neighborhoods through community building, housing, and economic development. HomeBase envisions a Greater Cincinnati with thriving communities built upon strategic social and economic investment.

The community development landscape in Cincinnati provides uneven support to communities. Communities with higher capacity CDCs often experience more success creating attractive markets, attracting investment, and implementing neighborhood plans that increase the quality of life .. Communities without such organizations often struggle to direct such positive change. An important element of the requested scope of work will be to outline best practices and a strategy for HomeBase and the City on how to support all of the city’s neighborhoods with a network of organizations that is sustainable and adequately resourced.

There are several planning and community engagement efforts underway in Cincinnati and the successfully qualified consulting team will be expected to connect this work with current efforts and demonstrate an understanding of the implications of these efforts for the overall community development landscape in Cincinnati, and, where appropriate, suggest strategies to make improvements.

HomeBase is requesting qualifications from experienced consultants or teams demonstrating the knowledge, skill and professional experience required to develop a strategic plan outlining current market conditions, community development ecosystem strengths and opportunities to improve neighborhood outcomes, sustainable organizational development, and best practices from peer cities.

HomeBase intends to engage professional consultants to develop a strategic plan for operational and project funding following federal competitive procurement requirements; a short list of qualified consultants with relevant experience will be developed following review of responses to this RFQ by Homebase.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Friday, April 21, 2023 at 5:00 PM ET
REFERENCE TITLE: CDC RFQ
RETURN TO: [email protected]

Requests for information related to this RFQ should be directed to Kathy Schwab, Interim Director at [email protected]