Study Planning Area:

The study planning area comprises of four (4) Tennessee counties (Fayette, Lauderdale, Shelby, and Tipton). Additionally, by way of intergovernmental agreement Crittenden County (AR) became part of the MAAG region and is not considered by EDA as an official member of the MAAG region for the purpose of this study. Crittenden County and cities may only receive study mention by way of its demographic and economic data.

Scope of Services:

The scope of services prepared by the consultant should address the minimum standards as established in the Study Objective section of this document. The consultant will work with an in-house staff team from MAAG, local government, workforce agencies and associated organizations identified as having a critical interest in economic development. Additional services included and not limited to the to following tasks:

• Economic Base Assessment: The consultant prepares an assessment of the regional economic base, including but not limited to economic trends, economic development infrastructure, opportunities and assets;
• Stakeholder Engagement: The consultant will assist MAAG staff with the identification of stakeholder groups and/or individuals for the purpose of input and discussion. In addition, the consultant will develop and facilitate, in coordination with MAAG, a public input strategy (number, frequency, time, location, etc.) to insure the greatest level of public interest and participation. As required by CEDS planning process, the consultant will utilize the CEDS Strategy Committee (appointed by MAAG Board) to seek and disseminate information regarding the entire plan development process;
• Workforce Skills Assessment: The consultant prepares an assessment of existing worker education and skills and identifies gaps or opportunities for workforce training linked to the region's economic growth opportunities;
• Development Policy Assessment: The consultant prepares an analysis of development policies of local governments to determine the level of industry acceptance/impediment (zoning, building codes/permits, review process, etc.) within the identified growth potential sectors;
• Development of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT): List strategic issues based on the aforementioned analyses and developed in coordination with business, government and community leaders that can serve as the basis for formulating goals, objectives and strategies;
• Workforce Development Delivery Assessment: The consultant prepares an assessment of existing training programs, and recommends strategies for the successful delivery of workforce training;
• Target industry Analysis: The consultant prepares an analysis to identify industries with growth potential meeting existing and recommended workforce and development policy objectives and, including specific company contract within targeted sectors;
• Recovery and Resilience Plan: The consultant will work with CARES personnel toward the development of a strategy to guide the business community toward a path of recovery in the event of a natural or manmade disaster event restricting normal commerce and business activities;
• Strategic Implementation Plan: The consultant prepares and implementation plan incorporating recommended target industrial marketing objectives and strategies, workforce development and training strategies, and other strategies as relevant to leverage economic growth and to meet other economic development goals and objectives identified for the region.