REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Economic Impact Analysis Services The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians seeks proposals to provide economic impact analysis services relating to Pokagon Band’s tribal government, its Four Winds Casinos, and its Mno- Bmadsen family of companies.

Pokagon Band of Potawatomi John P. Warren, chairman Jason M. Wesaw, government manager March 1, 2017 Deadline for proposals: March 17, 2017, 5:00 p.m. EST

The Pokagon Band is seeking to measure its impact on the economy of , , and of the lower region. The Band would like to fully understand the economic impact and public benefits of its government and businesses on the area and how the implications of our economic impact could serve to stimulate positive relationships with Indiana state government. The goal is to select a consulting firm whose collective and personal expertise best matches the needs of the Band in strengthening our public relations from an economic standpoint. GENERAL INFORMATION The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians’ sovereignty was reaffirmed under legislation signed into law by President Clinton in September of 1994. The Pokagon Band is dedicated to providing community development initiatives such as housing, education, family services, medical care and cultural preservation for its more than 5,300 citizens. The Pokagon Band’s ten county service area includes Berrien, Cass, Van Buren, and Allegan in Southwestern Michigan and LaPorte, St. Joseph, Elkhart, Kosciusko, Marshall, and Starke in . Its main administrative offices are located in Dowagiac, Michigan, with a satellite office in South Bend, Indiana. In 2007, it opened Four Winds Casino Resort in New Buffalo, Michigan, followed by Four Winds Hartford in 2011 and Four Winds Dowagiac in 2013. It broke ground on Four Winds South Bend in November 2016. In 2012 the tribe started Mno-Bmadsen, a non-gaming economic development entity that today owns and operates six firms in various industries in the

1 | Page

lower Great Lakes region. More information is available at www.pokagonband-nsn.gov, www.fourwindscasino.com, www.mno-bmadsen.com

Pokagon Band Mission Statement The Pokégnek Bodéwadmik / Pokagon Band of Potawatomi will respectfully promote and protect the culture, dignity, education, health, welfare and self-sufficiency of our elders, our youth, our families and our future generations, while preserving Mother Earth. We will strive to give Pokagon citizens a better quality of life. The Band will also strive for successful economic strength thus assuring the sovereignty of the Pokagon Potawatomi.

I. Scope of Work

The results of this study will enable the Pokagon entities to communicate their value to business, industry, and government entities in simple economic terms. The economic impact model will include the estimation of the direct and indirect impact of citizen, staff, and guest spending, as well as the direct and indirect impact of Pokagon Band expenditures. The analysis will focus on the extensive positive economic impact the Pokagon Band, its citizens, staff, and guests have locally, regionally and statewide. This scope will include the many ways in which the Pokagon Band contributes to the community improving the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. This includes, but is not limited to the following:

Direct Impacts: Business development, both Mno Bmadsen and Chi Ishobak Number of jobs generated by Pokagon Band and its entities Employment and payroll Wages and benefits

Purchase of goods and services (Projected spending as a percentage of a state, a county or other jurisdiction, sales) Citizens Staff Visitors/guests Operation and maintenance of properties/facilities

Construction contracts and employment (percentage broken down by Indiana and Michigan firms)

State and local taxes Payroll, Sales, Motor Vehicle, Income, Unemployment insurance Municipal Services Water Sewer Licenses Programs and Events (drawing people and money to the area) cultural, entertainment

2 | Page

Public Infrastructure Payments/Savings Tribal Police support to jurisdictional partners? Private roads open to public? Any Band-paid utilities maintenance/improvements to publicly used facilities?

Impact of Guests/Visitors

Community Service activities Pokagon Band | Four Winds Sponsored donations both monetary and non-monetary Any other returns on investment?

Entrepreneurial Initiatives Financial assistance to area Pokagon citizens: education, housing, health care, Chi Ishobak CDFI, etc. Fees paid to public institutions Indirect Impacts: Multiplier effect on health care, education, transportation, volunteerism/outreach (citizens/staff), human capital, job creation The assessment should cover demand-side effects – the effects the Pokagon Band has on the economy based on what goods and services the Band, its citizens, employees, and guests purchase locally, and supply-side effects – the effects that the Pokagon Band has on the economy based on the resources it offers to the local community. II. Deliverables • Initial comprehensive report • Executive Summary • Professional presentation covering the executive summary and highlights from the report • All design files • Annual updates to the report, executive summary and presentation • Ideas for communicating impact found in data

SUBMISSION PROCESS Questions must be submitted in writing and received no later than March 8, 2017 to Paige Risser by e-mail to [email protected]. Addenda to this RFP, including responses to any questions, will be posted on the Pokagon Band web site www.pokagonband-nsn.gov. The Pokagon Band will not accept, and cannot respond to, questions via any other methods.

The Pokagon Band expects, from this proposal, to enter into an agreement with a consulting firm that will gather and present the appropriate information in a suitable and professional manner. Please prepare twelve (12) copies of your proposal and work samples. Each copy of the proposal should be bound in a single volume and include any documentation you may wish to submit. Firms submitting a proposal in response to this RFP may be required to give an oral presentation of their proposal to Pokagon Band Tribal Council. This oral presentation may provide an

3 | Page

opportunity for the firms to clarify or elaborate on the proposal but will in no way change the original submission. Engagement staff should be present at the oral presentation. Any request for an oral presentation shall not constitute acceptance of a proposal. Proposals must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. EST, March 17, 2017 to Paige Risser by e- mail to [email protected]. The Pokagon Band reserves the right to reject any or all proposals submitted if such election is deemed to be in the best interest of the Band. The Pokagon Band assumes no obligation, no responsibility and no liability for costs incurred by the responding firms prior to the issuance of a contract. The current schedule for this effort is: March 1, 2017 – RFP Issued March 17, 2017 – Responses Due Week of April 10, 2017 – Oral presentations conducted if necessary April 21, 2017 – Firm selected subject to review and approval by the Pokagon Band Tribal Council.

4 | Page