Overview
In 2017, Fayette County was awarded $10,000 for planning services through the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) Tourism Enhancement Grant. This was a matching grant with a total budget of $20,000 to develop a county-wide Tourism Asset Plan. Tourism is one of the largest industries and economic drivers in Tennessee. In 2015, the industry saw another year of record breaking numbers with an economic impact exceeding $18.4 billion dollars, collecting $1.6 billion in state and local sales tax revenue and providing more than 157,400 jobs. The TNECD Tourism Enhancement grant was developed to provide Tourism infrastructure resources to enhance and improve the Tourism Economic Impact in Tennessee counties. The Tourism Enhancement Grant was funded by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.
In 2015, Fayette County tourism economic impact increased by 1.75% bringing in $8.64 million in tourism expenditures. Fayette County has some amazing assets such as Historic La Grange, Ames Plantation, Mineral Sloughs Bottom and so much more. Fayette County desires the development of a guiding document with action steps to enhance Fayette County tourism assets and continue to increase market and economic impact.
Study Objectives
Fayette County Government seeks professional services for the purpose of developing a county-wide tourism asset plan for Fayette County, TN. The Plan, utilizing existing efforts, will create a framework for enhancing current assets to drive and increase economic impact.
Tennessee Enhancement Grant Purpose and Objects:
TNECD Tourism Enhancement is to be used toward the creation of a county-wide Tourism Asset Action Plan. The Asset Action Plan must be a review of county tourism assets, recognition of gaps and missed opportunities, and include action steps for increasing the tourism economic impact with measurements and outcomes that match those listed in the full application.
Fayette County History
Fayette County, Tennessee is in the southwest corner of Tennessee, just east of Memphis. The largest town in the county is Oakland and the county seat is Somerville. Fayette County has roughly 39,000 residents. The Tennessee General Assembly established Fayette County on September 29, 1824, and named it in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette, French general and statesman. The county seat, Somerville, was named to honor Lieutenant Robert Somerville, hero of the battle of Tohopeka in Alabama. The county has had a long rural and agricultural background and in recent years has witnessed agricultural diversification, with soybeans becoming an important cash crop, followed by beef cattle, dairying, and egg production. In the 1990’s the county started to experience rapid residential growth, and increased its population about 11,000 in ten years. Most of Fayette County residents work in neighboring Shelby County. Fayette County Government employs about 250 individuals, with another 50 at Public Works and about 600 in the School System.
Scope of Services
The scope of services prepared by the consultant should address the minimum standards as established in the Study Objective section of this document. The consultant will work with an in-house staff team from Fayette County, the Memphis Area Association of Governments, local governments and chambers, tourism attractions, and associated organizations identified as having a critical interest in tourism economic impact. The document developed by the consultant will ultimately facilitate the effective development and marketing of Fayette County and area attractions to maximize tourism revenues and potential.
The tourism asset plan should include the following:
Phase 1: The Research
Phase 2: The Strategy
Phase 3: The Implementation
TNECD Minimum Deliverables for Tourism Asset Action Plan Project:
TNECD Minimum Requirement for Tourism Consultants:
Request for Proposal Response:
In the response to this RFP, the consultant shall provide a detailed description of the tasks involved in the execution of the aforementioned Scope of Services and the related costs for each task. Each task shall be assigned a length of time schedule necessary to complete the study. An electronic copy of the proposal must be e-mailed to Rhea “Skip” Taylor, Fayette County Mayor at rtaylor@fayettetn.us and Grant Administrator Jasmine Champion at jchampion@maagov.org. Please attach a minimum of two (2) references with the proposal.
Please click here for full RFP.