Consultants can bring a wealth of technical expertise and national experience, and can be a huge boon to cities needing a boost in bandwidth. But it’s also critical to build internal staff capacity, cultivate city leadership on key public-facing issues, and nurture city staff relationships with community stakeholders.
Capitalizing on consultant resources requires a thoughtful approach. How can cities use consultant support productively and wisely? (Spoiler: It starts with a rock solid RFP).