Creative, Marketing and Communications Director

The City of Avondale Estates invites experienced branding agencies to submit proposals for a comprehensive branding initiative to enhance the city’s identity, support economic development, foster civic pride and position the community as the ideal place to live, work and play in metro Atlanta.

The objective of this project is to develop a unified City brand that reflects the Avondale Estates' culture, values, future aspirations, and forward-thinking initiatives. It is important that the brand is authentic and reflects the many amenities and lifestyle opportunities available that make living and working in the city appealing.

This project includes:

• brand research including both quantitative and qualitative studies with key audiences for the city,
• brand strategy and platform development,
• brand design (logos, fonts, color scheme and style guide), messaging, and implementation guidance across various platforms (e.g., city signage, city branding, marketing materials and the city website),
• messaging and storytelling, and
• Implementation and rollout.

The project will require the consultant to obtain community input from current residents and businesses, as well as conduct a survey (and/or other recommended market research) of any newly identified audiences to ensure the City brand is perceived appropriately.

The consultant should have experience in providing a strategic approach to placemaking and an expert understanding of how branding can affect the economic development efforts of a community.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Proposals should be organized in the following manner:

• Agency Overview – Include a brief company history, outlining the agency’s mission and core competencies, and evidence of proven success in city or large-scale branding initiatives. Provide at least three (3) references from recent projects, including current contact information (municipal projects preferred). The City reserves the right to contact other references in addition to those provided.
• Approach and Work Plan – Describe the agency’s approach to achieving the goals outlined in this RFP. Provide a detailed timeline of deliverables and project phases.
• Portfolio of Relevant Work – Describe relevant experience with similar large-scale projects that highlight the agency’s ability to present fresh and forward-thinking ideas that are unique from other branding work. Include examples of branding projects, particularly for municipalities and/or public sector clients. Do NOT include preliminary sketches or design work related to this specific project.
• Project Team – Provide brief resumes of each team member who will work on this project, their role, and how much time they will spend on the project. (limit to 1 page per team member)
• Price – Provide a detailed pricing breakdown for each phase of the project identified in the proposed timeline. Include any additional services or expenses not addressed in the initial scope of work. All price information must be in a separate sealed envelope and submitted as part of the larger proposal package

PROPOSED SCHEDULE for the RFP

• Optional Online Pre-bid Meeting: January 7, 2025
• Submit Questions regarding the Branding RFP: January 17, 2025 by 5:00 p.m. EST
• Questions Answered (posted as an addendum): January 24, 2025
• Proposal Due: February 3, 2025 by 5:00 p.m. EST
• Finalists Interviews: Week of February 17, 2025
• Contract Presented to Board of Mayor and Commissioners: March 12, 2025
• Contract up for approval with Board of Mayor and Commissioners: March 26, 2025
• Project Work Begins: Week of March 31, 2025

Please see details on the RFP and links to the submission and question forms in the link provided.