RFP: Project Coordinator

Summary:

The TCAD Foundation, based in Ithaca, NY, is undertaking a feasibility study for a food processing (food manufacturing) sector development project. We seek an individual contractor to provide about 60 hours of support to this study. The study region is the eastern Finger Lakes, primarily targeting seven counties: Cayuga, Chemung, Cortland, Schuyler, Seneca, Tioga, and Tompkins. Ideally, the Project Coordinator will be familiar with the small food processors and the food processing resources in the region.

The Project Coordinator will support TCAD and two non-local consultants. The Project Coordinator’s responsibilities will include:

• Identify key stakeholders in the region for engagement in the study
• Organize and schedule meetings and interviews with stakeholders and the consultants
• Conduct secondary research, such as the collection of relevant published reportsThe purpose of the study is defining the market and the need for a business incubation center serving the food processing sector.

The purpose of the study is defining the market and the need for a business incubation center serving the food processing sector.The study is funded in part by a USDA grant. Two consultants have already been identified: a food manufacturing industry expert, and a business incubation expert. The Project Coordinator will provide on-the-ground, local support to these consultants, and will communicate regularly via email and phone to the consultants with pertinent project information.

It is estimated that this part-time effort of the Project Coordinator can be accomplished in about 60 hours during the initial research phase of the study (between December 1, 2015 and March 15, 2016). Preparing a series of meetings, tentatively scheduled for the week of January 11th, will be a key effort.

Proposals from interested applicants must be submitted by 4 PM (EST) Wednesday, November 11, 2015 to TCAD.

Interested applicants will find the link for the complete Request For Proposal at: www.tcad.org on the home page, or may contact Martha Armstrong (see below).

Contact: Email questions to Martha Armstrong, VP and Director of Economic Development Planning, TCAD, marthaa@tcad.org.