Todd Hutto, Chief, Plans, Analysis and Integration at U.S. Army Garrison – Redstone, explains what will occur with the BRAC realignment.

Colonel John Olshefski gives a briefing on Redstone Arsenal, the economic engine of the Tennessee Valley.

The result of the TVRGCP will be to help local governments across the region recognize the need to partner collectively with Redstone Arsenal to develop, integrate and recommend regional solutions by creating an overarching strategy to pull resources together. It is anticipated that the contract to develop the TVRGCP will be awarded in October 2007. The project will end December 1, 2008.

The goals of the Tennessee Valley Regional Growth Coordination Plan (TVRGCP) are:

• Assess current conditions and the impact of BRAC on the region;
• Determine future needs of the broader region through a visioning process;
• Determine short- and long-term priorities;
• Identify resources and potential sources of funding for potential solutions;
• Provide a coordinated action plan;
• Assure informed decision making; and
• Develop resources necessary to facilitate successful BRAC implementation.

The objectives of the study are to:

• Actively solicit the participation of all major stakeholders in coordination of BRAC issues and other projects related to the growth at Redstone Arsenal;
• Establish a regional vision and develop a long-term regional coordination andimplementation strategy to address BRAC-related issues;
• Maintain regular communication and collaboration between Redstone Arsenal and the region to address the issues;
• Maintain regular communication with local and regional groups/committees to discuss infrastructure and service issues/concerns related to the growth at Redstone Arsenal; and
• Establish a monitoring procedure in order to continuously receive public comment and input concerning growth issues.

Outcomes and benefits expected for this project are to:

• Develop a TVRGCP that establishes a regional vision and strategic plan to address the critical issues identified in relation to the growth at Redstone Arsenal;
• Form a strong regional collaboration to effectively implement these strategies and identify and address future regional needs including potential sources of funding to address these needs;
• Develop a single point of contact between Redstone Arsenal, cities, counties, the State of Alabama, and other federal agencies;
• Enhance regional communication by expanding the Tennessee-Valley.org website to distribute information regarding data collection and assessment; and
• This website will be used to distribute information about BRAC and as a central location where people considering relocation can stay informed regarding issues effecting schools, transportation, housing, etc.;
• Identify other studies, projects and/or activities that may be required to address the anticipated growth in population as a result of BRAC 2005.

This project will develop a TVRGCP with a regional visioning process as a critical component to responding to the growth resulting from BRAC 2005 at Redstone Arsenal. The TVRGCP represents a critical step toward regional cooperation to find integrated solutions that address the challenges identified. The TVRGCP will lay out a methodology to coordinate local plans and initiatives to benefit the region being impacted by BRAC 2005. This plan will build upon the results of previous and ongoing studies such as those being funded by the U.S. Department of Labor. This plan will not duplicate these or any other studies.

Development of a successful regional growth coordination plan is critical to the county, its cities, the surrounding area and Redstone Arsenal because of the significant impact the BRAC expansion will have on the region. The Chamber/WDG Team gives MCC the resources and capabilities needed to produce the high quality plan needed.

The Chamber/WDG Team offers these winning advantages:

• Intimate knowledge of the project study area.
• Very strong contacts and excellent working relationships with all regional agencies and individuals that would be part of the project research and development, the plan implementation affording facilitated meeting schedules and project timing, task force creations, identification of the most effective and best individuals to interview, knowledge of and access to needed resources, optimal project coordination with and among project stakeholders, and organizing and planning visioning sessions and other project meetings.
• Immediate physical access to MCC and project stakeholders for optimal project coordination and administration for scheduled or impromptu meetings.
• Full familiarization with BRAC (Redstone Arsenal), its process, its impact on the Madison County area, and the issues behind the need for the TVRGCP.
• Access to proprietary Chamber data and reports that offer invaluable support for the building of the plan.
• Optimal project speed and efficiency as well as feasible plan development.
• A stakeholder in the community with a strong vested interest in the development of a first class TVRGCP.
• The Chamber’s subcontractor, Wadley-Donovan GrowthTech (WDG), complements these Chamber advantages. WDG is the economic and workforce development consulting unit of The Wadley-Donovan Group. This firm is the oldest and largest independent firm offering combined economic and workforce development and corporate location consulting.

WDG completed a detailed community assessment of Madison County earlier this year for the Chamber including a full workforce assessment, a target cluster analysis, and target industry identification. Consequently, WDG brings the extensive experience and knowledge of the county, Redstone Arsenal and BRAC, gained from its work, to this project. This experience will allow WDG, with the Chamber, to enter into the project with minimal time spent on getting familiar with the area and the BRAC issues. The same staff that worked on the Chamber project will be assigned to the county’s TVRGCP. WDG will be joined by its two partner firms, Garnet Consulting Services (Garnet) and Taimerica Management Company (Taimerica).

The WDG Team offers MCC these advantages:

• Significant close knowledge of the county’s labor market, infrastructure, utilities, cultural resources, transportation, industry clusters target industry capabilities, and educational resources.
• Possession of a significant nationwide demographic, industry, education and labor force database with data relevant to the county level.
• First class interviewing and surveying abilities.
• Very strong capabilities and national experience in community visioning and impact assessments.
• A national leader in economic development, community, and labor market/workforce assessments.
• Experience working with BRAC-affected communities.
• The Chamber’s proposed scope of services, qualifications and other material requested in the MCC RFP that are presented in the following pages.