Community Economic Coalition Campus
A coalition of culturally responsive organizations focused on building a robust, equitable economy.
Background on Community Economic Coalition
The CEC is a collective of culturally specific and culturally responsive community based business nonprofit organizations focused on building a robust, equitable economy.
The CEC envisions a world where Native, Indigenous, Latino, Hispanic, Black, Brown, Asian American, and Pacific Islander communities collectively shift and create generational wealth and power, make lasting systemic change, and actively shape public policy.
The Coalition has a longstanding history of building multicultural allied networks and connections to promote economic prosperity for businesses and entrepreneurs. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the lack of equity and inclusion in federal, state, and city leadership, the Coalition united in solidarity to advocate for ALL our hard-hit communities.
Through our collective efforts, the Coalition successfully influenced budget and policy decisions, leveraging our collective voice to shape an equitable economy. Outcomes included reinstituting a defunded Technical Assistance state program for small businesses in underserved communities, equitable distribution of CARES federal funds, grant support for hard-to-reach small businesses, and more. Further, our Coalition continues to provide technical assistance, coaching, training, resources and referrals, leadership development, and advocacy for small businesses and entrepreneurs, particularly the historically marginalized and underserved communities.
Achievements of the Coalition within our first three years include:
- Securing $32 million in state and federal funds for emergency assistance, helping BIPOC small businesses survive the pandemic.
- Supporting the passage of legislation to expand access to capital for underserved businesses in Oregon.
- Influencing Portland’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy to prioritize communities most impacted by systemic inequities.
- Advising government agencies on making procurement processes more equitable.
Project Overview
The goal of this project is to create a high-profile campus with a primary focus on fostering generational wealth for socially and economically disadvantaged communities.
This will be achieved through comprehensive workforce and business owner training programs, aiming to inspire and educate young individuals about entrepreneurial opportunities. The mixed-use facility will comprise coworking spaces, offices, shared office amenity areas, and training rooms. Additionally, it may incorporate incubator space, small-scale manufacturing or maker spaces, as well as small community venue areas.
CEC RFQ Question Response
Are covers and dividers included in the page count?
No, they are not.
Is there a deadline for the use of the US SBA funds? Or an anticipated completion date for the end of the Conceptual Design phase?
The deadline for the use of the funds is flexible. However, we intend for this phase to be completed within 1 year from Notice to proceed.
Do you have a site(s) identified? If not, would site selection be a part of the feasibility work? We ask, because in developing the three concept designs, we are curious if the concepts will be driven by site differences or program differences?
The site is not identified, though we have made initial identifications of two promising potential sites. Given the limitations imposed by our allocated funds for feasibility studies, the selected team will evaluate each potential site as a high-level test fit. These site and program differences should be considered in developing the concept design.
(combined question) Do the funds allocated include all aspects of project needs, or are there additional funds available for subcontractors and/or specialists?
All of the figures in the RFQ represent the limit of funding for those project needs. For example, the Feasibility Study is constrained to a budget of $50,000, which covers all components of the study. There are no supplementary funds allocated for contractors or subcontractors in relation to that project need.
(Combined question) When is the NDA due for this RFQ and who should sign the NDA?
Pursuant to the RFQ, the NDA must be signed and returned within one week of a team’s notification that they have been selected. If your employees and subcontractors sign an NDA with your firm, then we only need an NDA from your firm. If project employees or subcontractors do not have an existing NDA with your firm, we require all related individuals to sign an NDA.
We just wanted to confirm the date that proposals are due, as 12pm (noon?) on July 21 is shown on page 1, whereas July 14 is noted in the middle of page 5, and in the subject line of the e-mail July 27 is noted. Please confirm.
There was a typo in the email subject line and an incorrect date in the RFQ – our sincere apologies for the confusion. The submissions are due at 12:00 pm Pacific Daylight Time on July 21st. A revised RFQ has been sent.
(combined question) Can you share which firms this RFQ has been sent to?
NWNC has been very intentional in distributing this RFQ to a select number of firms in the Pacific Northwest that we believe would be mutually beneficial to both parties in working collaboratively on this project. We are looking for firms with diverse backgrounds and portfolios that align with the values and priorities of the Coalition. We are seeking design partners with a thorough approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion, who can view development and design through the lens of socially and economically disadvantaged communities, either as a member of one of those communities or through extensive work with those communities.