South Dakota GOED RFI Workshop
description
Transcript of South Dakota GOED RFI Workshop
RFI Workshop
GOED Research Division
July 13 & 22, 2010
Welcome
Research Division• Mary Cerney - Research Manager
• Jenny Ondell - Data Coordinator
• Sherri Bastle - Information Specialist
• Mark Boehm - Tax Analyst
• Dave Anderson - Community Development Rep
RFI Overview
“Historically, if you didn’t have a site you wouldn’t have a shot at a project. Today, the lack of data is the main reason you’ll be eliminated.”
Robert Ady, President
Ady International, Mt. Prospect, IL
RFI Overview
Winning Site Selection Projects• Know & Satisfy Your Client• Organize for Speed• Prepared Sites (& Buildings) info: A Must• Be Prepared
Joan Herron, President
Herron Consulting, Atlanta, GA
RFI Overview
8-9 years ago Now
Length of typical search 6+ months 4-8 weeks
Scope of initial screeningOne or two dozen
communitiesHundreds of communities
% done in person vs. remotely
40% remote vs.
60% in person80% remote vs.
20 in person
#1 tool for learning about communities
Personal visit Website/internet
Changes in Site Selection
Source: “The internet has changed the dynamics of site selection” by Bob Ady, 2006 via YFactor Inc
RFI Overview
At a Minimum• Good site/building information• Utilities• Local Incentives
Audrey Taylor, President & CEO
Chabin Concepts, Chico, CA
RFI Overview
4 Elements of Successful RFI’s• Site information• Regional information• Demographic information• Miscellaneous information
Brent Pollina, VP,
Pollina Corporate Real Estate, Chicago, IL
The Finished Product
The Finished Product
www.SDreadytopartner.com
“You must continue to educate your-self in your field and stay current with that industry’s trends or you will become irrelevant.”
Bishop Dale C. Bronner
RFI Overview
Standard Content
The top five types of information requested in RFIs are:
1. Local Incentives2. Available Properties 3. Labor Force4. Utilities 5. Transportation
www.sdreadytowork.com/countyprofilereport/profiles.aspx
Standard Content
Local Incentives– Property Tax Abatements– Local Sales Tax Refunds – Workforce Development/Training Programs– Tax Refunds– Grant/Loan Programs– Free or Reduced costs on Land/Building – Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
Standard Content
Available Properties– Land & Buildings– Size– Price– Maps & Images– GOED Property Management System
• www.SDreadytowork.com/Property/Search.aspx
Standard Content
Labor Force Demographics– Labor Force Area – Population– Existing Labor Force– Available Labor – Occupation Wages
http://dol.sd.gov/lmic/
Utilities & Transportation– Utilities
• Electricity, Gas, Sewer, Telecomm
– Transportation• Highway, Rail, Air
Standard Content
Expanded Content
Additional Information– State Incentives
• REDI Loans, APEX Loans, Training Assistance
– Quality of Life• Crime, Healthcare, Commute Time, Housing
– Major Employers• New & Expanded, Unionization
– Other Content Unique to your Community– Use Testimonials
http://www.sdreadytowork.com/fi/index.asp
Information Organization
Now What?– Key selling points– Statistics
Avoid puffery
Information Organization
Cover Letter1. As the RFI Response
– Headings– Bullets
2. As an Introduction to your Response– One Page (preferable)– Headings
Information Organization
Proofing– Content
• Simple • Easy to find• Contact information
– Full Contact Info, Including a Name
– Spelling
Organizing & Formatting
Why Important?– Prospect is looking for any reason to
eliminate you• They are crunched for time
– How to Stand out• Key: Don’t waste their time
1. Meet their Requirements2. Address all their information needs3. Make information easy to find
Organizing & Formatting
Ultimate Goal: leave a lasting impression– Put your best foot forward– Helps your location to STAND OUT
• Community• State
Organizing & Formatting
Organizing– Electronic vs. Hard Copy
• Plan to submit everything electronically• Email submissions in (preferably) one email• Submission file size of 250-500 kb
– Final Product• Emailed to prospect as a PDF document• Size Limitation
Organizing & Formatting
Organizing– Software
• Microsoft Word• Adobe PDF
– Benefits– http://createpdf.adobe.com/ or http://www.cutepdf.com/
– Scanning to PDF (DON’T!)• Looks messy, unprofessional• Scanned as image – file size too large
Organizing & Formatting
Checking File Size File Properties
= “General” tab– Same method in
Word & PDF– Photo size visible
by viewing in WindowsExplorer
Organizing & Formatting
Organizing– Submission types
• Letter• Document
– Best Practices• Include a cover letter• Avoid using Brochures• Retype/Reformat information from 3rd Parties
Organizing & Formatting
Formatting– Branding
• Distinguishes your community
• Professional/Polishedappearance
• Simple & Consistent
Organizing & Formatting
Organizing Do’s & Don’ts
Do’s Don’tsInclude a cover letter Don’t provide more than
requested
Address all information needs Don’t send submission in the body of an email
Create your submission in one document
Don’t send submission in multiple pieces or multiple emails
Retype scanned information (articles, utility info)
Don’t scan into a PDF
Develop your own ‘branding’ Don’t use brochures
Organizing & Formatting
Writing Tips & Trends– Keep your sentences brief but informative
• Don’t be text heavy (wordy)• Watch for pet phrases/words• Point: If you can say it in fewer words, DO
– Salutations• less formal
– Paragraph Indentation– Periods (.) only require one space after them
http://tips-for-writing.blogspot.com/
Organizing & Formatting
Formatting– Goal quickly and easily convey your message
to the prospect• Don’t make them hunt for the information
– How to do this?• Headings/Fonts• Bullets/Numbering• Tables• Tabs & Paragraph Alignment• Images
Organizing & Formatting
Headings– Define a definite beginning and a definite end
to a topic– Can jump through a document at a glance
Fonts - Guidelines– Don’t use more than 2 different fonts
• (ex: Arial and Garamond)
– Use universal fonts• Arial, Garamond, Tahoma, Verdana• Avoid unique / decorative fonts
Organizing & Formatting
Organizing & Formatting
Fonts – Guidelines– Serif vs San Serif Fonts
• Serif Fonts: Times New Roman, Garamond, • San Serif Fonts: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana
Aa Bb Cc Dd
Serif
Aa Bb Cc Dd San-Serif
Organizing & Formatting
Fonts– Font Format window
Format Font
– Utilize formatting options• Bold, Italic, Underline• ALL CAPS
• SMALL CAPS
• ShadowShadow• C h a r a c t e r S p a c i n g
• Color• Size, Size, Size
Organizing & Formatting
Fonts– Styles & Formatting Tool (Microsoft Word)
• Allows you to set a template of text styles and easily apply those settings to your text
– before you use…turn off “Keep track of formatting”• Options Tools “Edit” tab
“Keep track of formatting” checkbox…uncheck.
Organizing & Formatting
Bullets/Numbering– Purpose
• Break up copy• Draw attention to important information• Make reading a document quick and easy• Convey your message more succinctly
Organizing & Formatting
Tabs & Paragraphs– Tabs are a good tool for information organized in rows
and columns.– Paragraph alignment
and spacing features allow you to distinguish sections of text.
Organizing & Formatting
Tables– Perfect for any information that is best
presented in a row-and-column format• We utilize tables extensively when supplying
labor and demographic data
Organizing & Formatting
Images– Images speak volumes
• A picture is worth a thousand words
– Use images, but use them wisely• Don’t over do it
– Use images in reference to key topics– Majority of images should concentrate on
available properties
Organizing & Formatting
Images– Image Types
• Photo’s• Maps• Graphs• Clipart
– Make sure photo’s are relevant and appealing– Make sure images are resized for electronic
media
6.4%
13.9%
6.0%
13.9%
5.5%
13.5%
5.8%
13.5%
5.5%
13.3%
5.4%
12.9%
6.0%
12.5%
5.9%
12.5%
5.9%
12.0%
6.5%
12.1%
5.0%
12.4%
0.0%
3.0%
6.0%
9.0%
12.0%
15.0%
% o
f Wor
kfor
ce U
nion
ized
19981999
20002001
20022003
20042005
20062007
2008
Year
Union Membership in South DakotaSouth Dakota United States
Organizing & Formatting
Formatting Do’s and Don’tsDo’s Don’tsUse up to 2 fonts Don’t use more than 2 fonts
Tweak fonts/format Don’t use fancy fonts
Use Universal fonts Don’t use too many images
Be consistent Don’t use outdated images
Break paragraphs into smaller bites (bullets, tabs, tables, graphs)
Don’t use clipart
Use images (exercise restraint)
Do resize your images for electronic media (50kb or less)
The End
Thank you!
Questions? Comments?
1-800-872-6190
www.SDreadytowork.com
www.SDreadytopartner.com