Westchester County Department of Planning

Buyer seeks consulting services to develop an inclusive and meaningful community outreach and engagement initiative for updating Westchester County's 2004 Agricultural Farmland Protection Plan. The initiative will focus on engaging communities in the process and building community around agricultural and ecological initiatives. The plan will explore how agriculture, food processors, and well-managed land can benefit society and the environment, creating healthier, more equitable communities. The initiative will serve as a guide for community involvement and inform the goals of Westchester County Farm and Food Strategic Plan.

• 7/18/2025 - Proposal Due Date
• 1/1/2026 - Potential contract execution

• Knowledge of Westchester County agriculture conditions and issues
• Experience with community engagement and outreach best practices
• Experience working with diverse cultures and non-English speaking audiences
• Understanding of food systems and public health connections
• Ability to comply with accessibility standards

• Develop comprehensive community outreach and engagement initiative plan
• Create inclusive engagement strategies for urban, suburban, and rural communities
• Design process to build transparency and trust in Westchester communities
• Implement deep-level community engagement including meetings and creative placemaking
• Develop graphics and marketing materials for community engagement
• Research relevant policies from other regions like NYC
• Prepare SWOT analysis and improvement recommendations
• Collect and analyze community data using GIS or crowdsource applications
• Present strategies applicable to other Planning Department sections
• Develop and facilitate conference/workshops with stakeholders and communities