Society For Marketing Professional Services Florida Chapters (SMPS)

Powering Progress: Sustainable strategies for marketing in professional services for a greener future

By Cat Olnick, Director of Marketing and Communications: Cummins Cederberg, Inc.

Trends in advertisements and Requests for Qualifications (RFQs) for infrastructure projects vary depending on economic conditions, government policies, funding and demand. With the increase in proposals and growing marketing teams, many of us marketers can agree there has been a general surge in infrastructure spending and public investments driven by factors such as urbanization, population growth, and the need for modernization and maintenance of existing infrastructure.

Following the global financial crisis of 2008, governments around the world implemented stimulus packages and infrastructure investment programs to spur economic growth and create jobs. These initiatives led to an uptick in infrastructure projects and, consequently, an increase in advertisements and RFQs for professional services such as engineering, architecture and construction management.

Additionally, as sustainability and resilience become increasingly important considerations in infrastructure development, there is a growing demand for specialized professional services in areas such as green infrastructure, renewable energy, and climate adaptation projects.

By integrating elements from funding mechanisms into project plans, you increase the chances of securing funding opportunities.

Funding Mechanisms

Florida has access to a variety of grant funding opportunities to support a wide range of initiatives and projects. Some of the key grant funding mechanisms include:

• State Grants: Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), and Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM)

• Federal Grants: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

• Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) Mitigation and Disaster Recovery: Provided by the federal government to states and eligible local governments, including municipalities.

• Transportation Grants: Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) grants and federal transportation funding programs.

• Environmental Grants: Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

Tracking

A comprehensive approach to tracking grant timelines involves systematically monitoring and managing key dates, milestones and requirements associated with the grant application, award, implementation and reporting processes. This coordination ensures that municipalities in Florida can effectively plan, coordinate, and execute grant-funded projects in a timely manner, maximizing their chances of success and compliance with grant requirements.

By closely monitoring grant timelines and identifying funding opportunities in advance, municipalities can position themselves to submit strong, timely grant applications and maximize their chances of securing funding for priority projects. Including funding multiple project elements with several grant sources.

Strategic Planning

Incorporating grant tracking and funding into a strategic marketing plan involves leveraging grant opportunities as part of the overall business development strategy. Here's how professional service firms can integrate grant tracking and funding into their marketing plans:

• Identify relevant grant opportunities

• Evaluate fit and eligibility

• Educate clients

• Build relationships with stakeholders

• Track timelines and deadlines

• Measure and adjust

• Plan for reporting and administration support

By integrating grant tracking and funding into your strategic marketing plans, professional service firms can enhance their competitive positioning, expand their service offerings, and create new opportunities for growth and impact in the market.

As we navigate through an era marked by a demand for modernization, sustainability and resilience in infrastructure, the role of strategic marketing and proactive grant acquisition strategies becomes paramount. Embracing an integrated approach will not only benefit firms but also contribute to the sustainable development and resilience of our infrastructure systems for generations to come.