Economic Development Strategy, Advisory, Capacity Building, and Project Delivery

The City of Palm Desert is seeking a senior‑level economic development consultant or firm to augment its internal Economic Development team. The scope includes strategic advisory, capacity‑building, business attraction, developer and real‑estate advisory, transaction support, and hands‑on project delivery. The consultant will work alongside city staff, coach them, develop repeatable processes, and transfer knowledge so that after roughly 18 months the city can operate independently. Key deliverables include a 3‑5‑year opportunity pipeline, market intelligence, CRM and data systems, a project‑delivery playbook, staff training, and assistance on specific development transactions. • Provide senior‑level strategic advice and implementation support for economic development initiatives. • Conduct market, demographic, and competitive analyses to identify target industries and opportunities. • Assist with business attraction, recruitment, retention, and developer outreach. • Offer deal structuring, financial analysis, and incentive evaluation for public‑private projects. • Build/standardize internal processes, CRM, dashboards, and reporting tools. • Coach municipal staff in negotiation, project management, and stakeholder engagement. • Deliver a knowledge‑transfer assessment and ensure sustainable internal capability.