Request for Qualifications

EDC Team Jefferson, the Economic Development Council of Jefferson County requests submission of qualifications for outreach, business technical assistance and access to lending resources provided for microbusinesses in east and west Jefferson County. The Council will review all submissions and follow up with applicants. Interested parties shall submit a Statement of Qualifications by email to director@edcteamjefferson.org

1. Title

Outreach, Technical Assistance and Access to Lending Resources Provided for Microbusinesses in East and West Jefferson County

2. Background

EDC Team Jefferson, with a grant provided by the WA State Microenterprise Association, seeks to increase its presence in rural Jefferson County, convening and listening to microenterprise business needs, and catering business technical services to those that have difficulty accessing conventional services otherwise. 

3. Description

This proposal is focused on outreach to and convening of microenterprise businesses, to identify needs and provide appropriate technical services. Business clients will be limited to microenterprises in Jefferson Co WA.  Convening includes facilitated group advising gatherings in Queets, the Hoh community, and east Jefferson County to identify local networks and uncover assistance needed. The contractor will be the facilitator and field lead and will work with EDC TEAM Jefferson, sharing service provision responsibilities.

4. Requirements

Education

4-year degree in business or accounting, master’s degree preferred.

Skills/Abilities and Network

• 4-years of experience with microenterprise and small business advising
• Proof of facilitation experience
• Relational approach
• Local knowledge of Jefferson County
• Familiarity with lending network on the Olympic Peninsula
• Existing professional relationships in east and west Jefferson County
• Ability to travel between east and west Jefferson County

Must provide W9, UBI number and proof of insurance, and 3 references.

5. Timeline

Advising, both group advising and one-on-one, will occur during the 18-week period between Feb 1, 2024 and June 15, 2024.

6. Specific Activities

Group Advising/Workshops – goal, reach minimum of 6 businesses at each

3-hour Group Advising/Workshops (11 total for 33 hours)

# Facilitated Group Advising/workshop Queets: 2
# Facilitated Group Advising/workshop of Hoh Community: 2
# Facilitated Group Advising/workshop in Queets/Hoh together: 1
# Facilitated Group Advising/workshop on the West end in Port Townsend weekend of May 17-19.

# Facilitated Group Advising, East end: 5
# East/West combined Business Network group advising 1

Aggregate Group Advising/workshop total 11

Through these group advising gatherings, leaders will continue to be identified and supported, with the goal of helping to create self-supporting, locally led, learning cohorts in Jefferson County as a whole. The focus of this proposal is building a bridge between east and west, to support the resilience of maker businesses. The focus of the West end is the tribal village of Queets and the Hoh community. Queets is a Quinault village located in Jefferson County and is home to many Hoh relatives.

Hosted facilitated gatherings will include group advising for business communities of the Queets Village and business communities of the Hoh. The purpose of these gatherings is to facilitate the locally-driven formation of West end learning cohorts to identify training, technical assistance, and lending needs.
 

On the east end of Jefferson County, the group advising will focus on recruiting new members to the E Jefferson network, identifying and providing training, technical assistance, and lending assistance to the businesses in the woman-owned business makers, elevating connection.

While we support the expansion of business networks and learning cohorts on the west and east ends of Jefferson County, we grow our strength, increase interdependence, and improve business resourcefulness.

1:1 Technical Advising based on business needs (54 hours total)

One-on-one technical assistance/advising, one hour each, for 40 businesses

• East Jefferson County, 44 hours, includes lending info and referrals
• West Jefferson County, 10 hours, to include lending info and service referrals