Imagine Kootenay Regional Expansion & Program Delivery
Issue Date: July 4, 2025
Closing Time: Proposals must be received before midnight on Thursday July 24th, 2025.
Purpose:
The Imagine Kootenay (IK) Partnership is seeking a proponent to deliver www.ImagineKootenay.com , the “IK Program”, from August 2025 – December 31, 2026 with the opportunity for ongoing program delivery contingent upon the approval of sustainable ongoing program funding. The successful proponent will be responsible for integrating additional Kootenay communities into the platform, expanding the website’s capacity to represent the entire region, developing and implementing targeted marketing strategies to maximize exposure.
Imagine Kootenay:
www.ImagineKootenay.com is a regional economic development partnership committed to raising the profile of the Kootenay region as a great place to invest, work and live, informing investors about the regional business climate, supporting communities to be investor ready and showcasing specific investment opportunities. The IK partnership is governed by its community partners through a Steering Committee and has been delivered since 2005. Community Futures South Kootenay is a member of the IK Steering Committee.
IK recently returned to a “made-in-the-Kootenays” delivery model and is now transitioning to a more
sustainable structure. It previously operated on a members-only subscription model, with fees based on
population size. However, fluctuating membership created difficulties attracting new communities.
Following a strategic and feasibility review, the IK Steering Committee chose to forego this model and in
favour of a region-wide approach. Feasibility planning revealed that an inclusive model is key to
unlocking the platform’s full potential and ensuring long-term sustainability.
Key Accountabilities:
- Overall IK Program project coordination and fulfillment of related information technology services;
- Successful integration of additional Kootenay communities into the IK Program;
- Successful expansion of the website’s capacity to represent the entire region;
- Successful delivery of the IK Program by leading the development and implementation of a strategic plan and related work plan;
- Marketing – development of online, print, outdoor and social media marketing campaigns and collateral and sub-contracting web developers, graphic designers as required;
- Website Management – development and maintenance of IK website to ensure content is compelling and current;
- Content – creating compelling photo and video content; supporting the development of community profiles, investment profiles, employer profiles and related web and social media content;
- Relationship Management – liaising closely with community partners, program partners and program funders;
- Program Sustainability – identifying and securing program funding to ensure the sustainability of the IK program which could involve developing and implementing new revenue streams, securing grant funding and on-going leveraging of community funds;
- Financial Management – ensuring IK funds are spent effectively to achieve the goals of IK as well as managing and reporting on IK budget to community partners and funders;
- Reporting – providing quarterly reports to the Steering Committee and funders demonstrating program performance;
- Steering Committee – preparing and participating in quarterly Steering Committee meetings.
Budget:
Currently the IK Program is funded by ETSI-BC’s Building Economic Development Capacity grant, through a combination of community partner funds and leveraged through funding grants. The budget related to the work described in this RFP should not exceed $76,000. Moving forward, IK’s community partner contribution totals have the potential to be close to $80K annually, pending the outcomes from the work completed in this RFP and future budgeting set by the Steering Committee.
Capacity:
IK currently operates with a Steering Committee, comprised of Kootenay-based community economic development practitioners, that support IK Program operations and sustainability.
Proposals:
Proposals should include:
- an outline of the proponent’s relevant qualifications and experience;
- methodology for delivering IK’s key accountabilities; and
- budget for delivery to include wages/professional fees, marketing budget, website costs and any other substantial budget categories as needed.
No Obligation to Proceed:
This RFP is not a tender nor an agreement to purchase goods or services. IK is not bound to select a preferred proponent or to enter into a Contribution Agreement with the proponent who submits the lowest-priced proposal or with any proponent, and IK reserves the complete right to at any time reject all proposals and to terminate this RFP process.
Submissions:
Proposals should be emailed to erik@communityfutures.com by midnight on Thursday, July 24th, 2025.
