104-24 Exhibits-Economic Development Counsultant - 2024.pdf

Nishuane Group, LLC. Land Use Planning Community Engagement 105 Grove Street, Suite 3 Economic Development Urban Design Montclair, NJ 07042 Redevelopment Planning Project Management February 13, 2024 Purchasing Department West Orange Township 66 Main Street West Orange, NJ 07052 Re: Township of West Orange Request for Proposals for Economic Development Consultant Dear Ms. Reynolds: Nishuane Group, LLC. 6 pleased fo submit our proposal fo be designated as the Economic Development Consultant for the Township of West Orange, New Jersey. The Principals at Nishuane Group have reviewed the Request for Proposal for Economic Development Consultant services. We look forward to the opportunity fo serve the Township of West Orange to provide professional consulting services as requested in the RFP. Nishuane Group, LLC, is a limited liability corporation, headquartered in Montclair, New Jersey that is an M/WBE, SBE and DBEcertified firm consisting of licensed Professional Planners and practitioners. The fim & owned by iis Founding Principal, George Wheatle Wiliams, PP, AICP and Principal & Managing Partner, Michéle S Delisfort, PP, AICP. We have extensive experience in diverse planning specialties and subject matter expertise including economic development, community engagement, land use planning, redevelopment planning, housing, etc. Our team is responsive to our clients and communities needs, act as trusted advisors and are knowledgeable about the tenants of economic development in New Jersey. We immerse ourselves in the communities where we work to best understand and support its challenges, opportunities, and potential. Our team members has a plethora of previous professional experience in the Township of West Orange for which we provide further details in this proposal. The Township of West Orange 6 a vibrant and prosperous municipality that will benefit from economic growth. As the Township strives to be a highly desirable location to live, work and visit in not only in Essex County, but the entire State of New Jersey, our professional expertise in economic development will guide West Orange to leverage its assets for further investment, business development and job growth. Thank you for considering Nishuane Group to spearhead this assignment. We look forward to working with the Township of West Orange. If you have any questions on our proposal,

elopment and job growth. Thank you for considering Nishuane Group to spearhead this assignment. We look forward to working with the Township of West Orange. If you have any questions on our proposal, please contact me at 9739542677 at Et. 2. Thank you. Sincerely, Michéle S. Delisfort PP/AICP Principal and Managing Partner Nishuane Group, LLC.

Nishuane Group, LLC Nishuane Group, LLC is an urban planning consultancy with headquarters in Montclair, New Jersey. Founded in 2007, the firm is composed of a diverse team of planning professionals. Its client roster includes all sectors of the community; including large and small municipalities in urban centers and Practice Areas suburban communities, developers, community-based Land Use Planning organizations and planning agencies. Professional Planning Testimony Redevelopment Planning Our team members joined the firm with previous experience in Economic Development public sector planning, nonprofit, private practice and Community Engagement academia, bringing a range of perspectives and Urban Design experiences. The varied background of the team enhances Project Management our ability to handle the challenges inherent in working with divergent groups, interests and opinions. Certifications and Affiliations This blending of professional and real-world expertise makes Minority Women Owned Nishuane Group the ideal resource for private clients and Business Enterprise (M/WBE) Small municipalities undertaking projects that have significant Business Enterprise (SBE) impact on the physical fabric and socio-economic Disadvantaged Business conditions of their urban and suburban communities. Enterprise (DBE) No matter the project, Nishuane Group incorporates its own American Planning Association underlying mission: To work as a partner with our clients to NJ Chapter develop plans that improve the physical, economic, National Chapter environmental and/or social aspects of communities. International Economic Development Council Nishuane Group works closely with residents, small businesses and National Trust for Historic other stakeholders to improve downtown and Preservation

shuane Group works closely with residents, small businesses and National Trust for Historic other stakeholders to improve downtown and Preservation neighborhood districts. We achieve this by creating New Jersey Commercial redevelopment plans and amending land use regulations to Real Estate Alliance-Retail revitalize under-performing areas or providing professional Division The New Jersey Planning planning services to zoning and planning boards. We Officials facilitate focus groups, informational meetings and other engagement sessions to allow community members to understand fully the challenges and issues being tackled and to Our Clients enlist their ideas and support in developing solutions. Community-Based Organizations Developers Each of our staff members brings specific strengths, whether the Local and State project focuses on redevelopment planning, economic agencies development, land use planning, urban design or related Municipalities issues. We know what questions to ask as we seek Nonprofit Corporations approaches to a community’s needs. Universities The result is an implementable, equitable planning strategy that enables clients to realize their goals, including real Nishuane Group, LLC estate development, new community programs and 105 Grove Street, Suite 3 sustainable growth. Equally important, our plans also include Montclair, NJ 07042 Tel: 973.954.2677 approaches to obtain the necessary fiscal support to info@Nishuanegroup.com implement projects. Our planning process is designed to connect people to jobs, develop improved and quality housing for all segments of the population, enhance communities and stimulate neighborhood revitalization.

of the population, enhance communities and stimulate neighborhood revitalization. 5

Tab 2: Executive Summary This section includes a brief overview of our firm's qualifications, understanding and familiarity of West Orange and a high-level description of the scope of services offered.

Executive Summary As the Nishuane Group project team embarks on various aspects of the project. we will ensure that there is close coordination with neighborhood partners, non-profit partners, consultants, and other key stakeholders will be engaged as part of this process. Our team has a unique combination of experience that ideally fits the needs of West Orange. We are at the intersection of economic development and urban planning services. Members of our team are licensed in Professional Planning by the State of New Jersey and have certifications in planning (American Institute of Certified Planners) and economic development (Economic Development Finance Professional and Main Street Downtown Revitalization certificate). Weaving economic development and planning together is essential for the success of a municipality: from implementing the Master Plan, to reviewing trending and emerging land uses, to preparing redevelopment studies and plans, to conducting a retail gap analysis of the Township, to attracting new businesses based on the results of the gap analysis, our blend of experiences lends to both fields working together to achieve tangible results. We view both fields as mutually inclusive and necessary in foreseeing the future of a municipality with a keen awareness to strategic methods to building vitality, revitalization and opportunity. With our office location less than 4 miles away from the Township's Municipal Building, we are positioned in a prime location. Our staff members are accessible and can travel to the Township for meetings, workshops, site visits and other events in minutes. Further, we are well- informed about West Orange. We are familiar with its assets, such as Turtle Back Zoo and the South Mountain Recreation Complex, Edison National Historic Monument, Eagle Rock Reservation and St. Mark's Square, to name a few. However, we are also cognizant of challenges that must be addressed. This includes the vacancies of key commercial properties, The Manor and Mayfair Farms, and the presence of vacant storefronts on Main Street and Northfield Avenue. Bridging connectivity among the Township's designations, shopping centers and commercial corridors needs to occur for a successful business network. We know that bringing back tax revenue from these idling properties is vital for the economic health of West Orange. With this intimate

cial corridors needs to occur for a successful business network. We know that bringing back tax revenue from these idling properties is vital for the economic health of West Orange. With this intimate knowledge of the Township, our team is already a step ahead in moving forward to formulate solutions for these issues. In providing services as the Economic Development, we anticipate the provision of ‘boutique services’. We are accustomed to delivering on high demand of clients. However, we are able to customize the services and tasks assigned by tailoring to the specific needs of West Orange with our wide array of tools and tactics obtained from our years of experience. . For further details regarding the proposed scope of services, please refer fo Tab 9: Addendum Detailed Scope of Work of this Proposal.

Tab 3: Needs Overview This section includes information on our team knowledge of the Township of West Orange and our understanding of the current needs through this request for proposal.

Needs Overview Nishuane Group, LLC. is pleased to respond to this Request for Proposal from the Township of West Orange, New Jersey to be selected as their Economic Development Consultant. Our approach is designed to be strategic, innovative and inclusionary based on our deep knowledge and understanding of West Orange's economic development and planning needs, and our drive to use state-of-the art tools, best practices, and practioner techniques to engage the administration, stakeholders, the business community and patrons throughout the various economic development and planning processes as part of this contract. We will ensure professional excellence in our approach and value to the Township of West Orange. West Orange Conditions and Opportunities: West Orange has an overall population of 48,843 residents, according to the 2020 Census. Some notable designations of the Township are the Richard J. Codey Arena, Turtle Back Zoo, Essex County Country Club, South Mountain Reservation, and Thomas Edison National Historic Park. There are several shopping centers, including Essex Green and West Orange Plaza (with Whole Foods grocery store as an anchor tenant, and soon-to-be Target at the former K-Mart storefront), serving at the primary commercial hubs of West Orange. The medical and healthcare industries are significant sectors in the Township as there are numerous facilities present, including the medical complex located on Mount Pleasant Avenue, Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, Daughters of Israel Homes, Brighton Gardens of West Orange, Brookdale West Orange, Arden Courts of West Orange, Canterbury Village, Complete Care at Summit Ridge and other continuum of care facilities and medical institutions. The Township should evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of its commercial corridors, including Main Street, Eagle Rock Avenue, Pleasant Valley Way, Prospect Avenue and Northfield Avenue. This can be accomplished by conducting an evaluation of each corridor’s business inventory and vacancy locations. Determining the durations of the businesses and turnover rates are also key in assessing the economic climate of the corridor. Further, conducting outreach regarding reasons for vacancies and turnover can contribute in resolving these issues. Nishuane Group offers to provide economic development services in assisting the Township in increasing tax ratables,