Scope: The Small Business Marketing Assistance Programis a newly created program within the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority’s (NORA) Enhance Corridors portfolio of programs which focus on supporting small business development along designated Low- and Moderate-Income (LMI) areas across the City.
The goal of the Small Business Marketing Assistance Programis to provide grants up to $30,000 which would pair eligible small commercial business owners with professional marketing firms to create comprehensive marketing campaigns. The program aims to reduce the failure rate for small businesses and the recurrence of commercial vacancy by providing tools and expertise for existing small business enterprises. Professional Marketing firms are required to create and implement a comprehensive marketing strategy over a 3- 6-month period for each eligible business.
Eligible businesses will be selected as Participants by NORA via a two-part application process for the Small Business Marketing Assistance Program. The applications will be open until funds are exhausted. The Part A Application will be used to verify applicant eligibility and review a brief proposal of the scope of work for requested marketing services. The Part B Application will be used to review a more detailed description of the applicant’s previous marketing activities and desired marketing and business goals.
NORA will assign professional marketing consultant and/or firm(s)contracted through this RFP to provide Participants with comprehensive marketing strategies.
The purpose of this Request for Proposals is to procure one (1) or more Small Business Marketing consultants, firms, and/or teams to provide a full scope of small business marketing needs.
The ideal consultant and/or marketing firm(s) will have expertise in small business marketing and have the capacity to provide services to business owners from diverse backgrounds. Additionally, the ideal consultant should have demonstrated success working with small businesses that may have limited marketing knowledge and experience.
The primary role of the consultant and/or marketing firm(s) will be to improve the participating business’s ability to effectively market their products or services to customers. The consultant will be responsible for holding one-on-one meetings with participating business owners to refine websites, social media content, and improve their overall marketing strategy. The consultant may also be required to hold monthly or quarterly workshops that will be available to all participants and those local businesses not enrolled in the program. These workshops will focus on the fundamentals and nuances of marketing.
Specifically, NORA seeks qualified, broadly skilled resource consultants and/or marketing firm(s) to provide services in the following areas:
* Marketing Strategy Implementation and Brand Management
* Improve Participants’ marketing strategies and assist in the development of marketing strategies for new businesses. Help them to find their target market and provide methods to most effectively advertise. Show business owners which marketing methods bring in the most consumers, and which areas they should focus on.
* Improve Participants’ digital platforms. This includes websites, social media accounts, and any other
digital platform business owners are using to reach consumers.
* Work to improve Search Engine Optimization of their website and increase their digital presence.
* Educate Participants. Conduct monthly workshops that will inform participants about the broad fundamental elements of marketing their businesses such as finding their target market, how to measure marketing performance, and establishing a marketing plan.
* Workshops would also include deep dives into very specific topics such as Pay Per Click Marketing, Google Analytics, Customer Acquisition Costs, and much more.English/Spanish/Vietnamese Translation * Provide nuanced and culturally sensitive translations including promotional copy and advertising scripts, with a focus on English/Spanish/Vietnamese translation.
* Print/Mailing Services – Printed collateral, weekly mailers, etc.
* Graphic Design Services – Posters, banners, mailers, cards
Consultants will be required to:
* Provide a comprehensive set of services including but not limited to providing program participants with weekly office hours for 2 hours a week, providing monthly group workshops for 2 hours, and providing a monthly report of the work done with participating businesses.
It is understood that under its agreement with NORA, the Contractor is expected to provide up to a preset maximum number of hours of small business marketing assistance to applicants to complete the necessary requirements to create a comprehensive marketing strategy, as determined by NORA. NORA is under no obligation to make any minimum assignments and the total value of all assignments may not meet the contract maximum.
Deliverables (Examples):
For each participant, deliver a Marketing and Advertising Plan document that outlines campaigns, audiences, timelines, assets/resources needed, message focus, estimated costs for billable deliverables, and identifies overall performance metrics.
Per the Marketing and Advertising Plan, manage the production of and deliver all related marketing and brand assets and resources.
Due Date: Friday, June 27, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. (CDT)
Contact: Audrey Plessy at Audrey.Plessy@nola.gov
