In an effort to build upon recent diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in Bennington, town staff and citizen boards, in dialogue with community partners, agreed that the town's primary policy document, the Town Plan, should be updated to better integrate values of equity and inclusion across the topics it covers and policies it sets forth. The update will occur in two phases. This two-phase update process aims to dedicate specialized and professional resources to facilitate public dialogue, especially with locally marginalized populations, in a way conventional plan updates often fail to fully implement.

This RFP is for Planning and DEI consultant services for Phase 1 of the Town Plan update process. Phase I will employ a multifaceted public engagement process with the support of Planning and DEI consultants to make the update process accessible and productive. A summary of the DEI-informed public engagement process and its findings will be produced. Those findings will be condensed into an outline of community themes and priorities as a new content structure for the Town Plan, with specific takeaways on DEI concerns and opportunities in the community. A broader and deeper presentation of citizen concerns and needs will hone the town's policies on all topics, but particularly housing, economic development, transportation, community facilities, and land use.

Phase II (not a part of this RFP) will integrate current Town Plan language under the new structure developed in Phase 1 and revise sections accordingly and strategically.

This Town Plan update is one of several efforts Bennington intends to pursue to implement the town's vision of becoming "a welcoming, engaged, inclusive, and resilient community where everyone, regardless of identity, shares in our vitality and benefits from an outstanding quality of life".