GBC Issues RFP to Rebrand the Baltimore Region
(Baltimore, Md.) – The Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC), the leading voice for the private sector in the Baltimore region, has issued a request for proposals (RFP) seeking a partner to revamp the business investment narrative and branding of the Baltimore region. The GBC is looking to reshape perceptions of the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) by emphasizing its strengths and opportunities, while addressing the challenges it faces.
Founded in 1955, the GBC represents over 500 organizations, including businesses, nonprofits, foundations, and educational and healthcare institutions. In May 2022, the GBC merged with the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore to create a united vision for Baltimore’s competitiveness and growth. Following the merger, the GBC, led by new president & CEO Mark Anthony Thomas, developed a comprehensive 10-year strategy to drive economic growth, enhance civic leadership, and position the Greater Baltimore region as a national and global contender.
The GBC seeks a qualified marketing agency with a proven track record in place-based branding efforts to play a pivotal role in developing a cohesive brand narrative that communicates the Baltimore region’s assets to growth businesses, industry influencers, and media outlets locally, nationally, and internationally.
“Developing the Baltimore regional brand is more than a storytelling effort,” the GBC includes in the RFP. “The messaging that’s distilled from engagement with our stakeholders will serve as a foundation for how we communicate the regional economic message in support of retention and attraction of local, domestic, and international business and economic opportunities. Equally, the brand will also serve to amplify the stakeholders and organizations driving civic progress to address regional challenges, reinforcing a message of a community deeply invested in and committed to a thriving region.”
The major components of the rebranding initiative include:
– Development of a Messaging Framework: Creating a narrative that showcases the region’s assets to target audiences.
– Actionable Marketing Research: Contextualizing how the Baltimore region is perceived among key networks.
– Robust Earned Media Infrastructure: Amplifying awareness of civic progress and Baltimore’s advantages across key verticals.
– Business Attraction Digital Presence: Crafting an immersive online presence to attract, retain, and invest in the Baltimore region.
– Stakeholder Engagement: Building support and organic dissemination of key messages.
Collaborating organizations, such as Visit Baltimore, the Maryland Marketing Partnership, and various county economic development organizations, are committed to working together to map out the region’s assets and develop a compelling narrative. These efforts will strengthen the region’s appeal for talent, businesses, real estate, and economic development.
“The Greater Baltimore region boasts a population of over 2.9 million residents and is home to several Fortune 1000 companies, a thriving tech ecosystem, and numerous higher education institutions,” said Mark Anthony Thomas, President & CEO of the GBC. “Between the recent Tech Hub designation and major infrastructure developments that are underway, the region is an attractive destination for investments at every level.”
The RFP outlines a detailed scope of work, including research and insights, messaging framework development, earned and paid media, creative elements, digital presence, content strategy, and stakeholder engagement.
The timeline for proposals is as follows:
– Issue Date: November 13, 2023
– Deadline for Questions: November 20, 2023
– Submission Due Date: December 4, 2023
– Project Award: December 18, 2023
Those interested in responding to the RFP must notify Nekoro Gomes, Vice President of Communications, at nekorog@gbc.org by December 1, 2023, at 11:59 pm ET.
To view the RFP, including submission requirements, please visit www.gbc.org/rfp.
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ABOUT GREATER BALTIMORE COMMITTEE:
The Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) is the leading voice for the private sector in the Baltimore region, providing insightful economic and civic leadership to drive collective impact. Composed of more than 500 organizations, including large, mid-size, and small companies, nonprofits, foundations, and educational and healthcare institutions, the GBC is dedicated to fostering the prosperity of the Greater Baltimore region. For more information, visit gbc.org.