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<br /> <br />STUDY APPROACH <br /> <br />Avalanche Consulting's economic development planning model is a dynamic process that incorporates <br />information and inputs from a variety of sources. There are no preconceived ideas or predefined answers. <br />Avalanche uses a series of key questions to guide the overall process: <br /> <br />How is La Porte's economic and demographic position unique? <br />What are the key drivers of the local and regional economies? <br />What vision do local officials, businesses, and residents have for economic development? <br />What is La Porte's ideal development mix and who are the City's target audiences? <br />What community and policy changes will make La Porte a better place for its audiences? <br />How can La Porte's historic downtown become a vibrant community core? <br />What specific steps should La Porte take to build target audience presence in the City? <br />How much should the City budget for economic development in the next five years? <br />How can the City track and measure its progress? <br /> <br />The strategy that we create for La Porte will address the questions above and offer recommendations for <br />addressing the community's development challenges. The planning process will consist of a project set-up <br />phase and five steps. <br /> <br />PROJECT SET UP <br /> <br />At the start of the project, Avalanche will establish the systems needed to efficiently manage and maintain <br />momentum throughout the project. In our extensive strategic planning experience, we have found that <br />efficient project management and open communication greatly contributes to a project's success. <br /> <br />Avalanche's proven account management system involves a mix of in-person meetings, conference calls, and <br />Web applications to efficiently facilitate communication. Our proven system allows us to keep projects on <br />track, on time, and on budget. <br /> <br />To begin, we will work with the City and the Economic Alliance Houston Port Region (EAHPR) to <br />identify the types of individuals and organizations that should comprise a 10-15 member Project Steering <br />Committee. The Steering Committee will serve as Avalanche's sounding board, meeting with our team <br />during visits to the region, reviewing Avalanche's deliverables, and sharing ideas. Avalanche will provide <br />the City and EAHPR with a Steering Committee invitation letter that can be e-mailed to prospective <br />participants. The letter will specify the responsibilities of the Steering Committee and its members. <br /> <br />We also ask the City to assign one staff member to be its internal project manager and our team's primary <br />point of contact. Avalanche's president, Amy Holloway, will serve as the project manager and point person <br />throughout the entire project. <br /> <br />PROPOSAL: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE CITY OF LA PORTE. RFP #08510 <br />