Background

What Downtown Cary is today started with thoughtful planning, leadership, and bold vision set in motion decades ago. The foundation for today’s vibrant and bustling downtown was laid in the early 2000s when Cary’s Town Council adopted the Town Center Area Plan, establishing a clear roadmap for redevelopment and investment in the heart of the community. 

To further support this vision, the Town created a Municipal Service District (commonly known as a Business Improvement District or BID) in 2012, helping to launch and guide downtown revitalization. In 2013, the Downtown Park Master Plan was adopted, and the design for Cary’s Town Square began taking shape.

The vision was strengthened in 2017 with the adoption of the Imagine Cary Community Plan, reaffirming Downtown Cary’s role as the cultural and social heart of the community. With continued Council leadership, Downtown Cary Park opened in 2023, welcomed as a remarkable destination for residents and visitors alike. 

Today, Downtown Cary is a thriving hub of businesses, food, culture, and community. But sustaining this success takes ongoing coordination and support. To maintain momentum, ensure long-term sustainability, and proactively address emerging challenges, the Town is exploring the creation of a Downtown Business Alliance.

Request for Proposal

Cary has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking qualified organizations and experienced consultants to help develop a framework for a potential Downtown Business Alliance. With a strong local economy and vibrant business community, Cary is looking to create a structure that supports continued growth, partnership, and long-term success for its downtown businesses.

Schedule

• RFP Posted: March 14, 2025
• Proposal Submission Deadline: June 27, 2025
• Review Proposals and Form Working Group: Fall 2025
• Select Consultant: Winter 2026
• Consultant work is expected to take a year or more.

Received Bids (22):

• Benchmark Planning

• Bloom.

• Drayton Leadership Group

• Fountainworks

• French West Vaughan

• HR&A Advisors Inc.

• Innovate P3 LLC

• Integrative Policy Solutions

• Kaizen, A Tetra Tech Company

• Keen Independent Research

• MBP Services Corp - Matthews, NC

• Metz Solutions, LLC - Goldsboro, NC

• MFAD Creative Group, LLC

• noodle research + strategy

• North Carolina Always

• PPR Strategies

• ScottMadden Management Consultants

• T. Simpson Consulting

• TPMA

• Trinity Strategic Consulting, Inc.

• Upsize Economics & Marketing

• VSJ & Co.

Contact

Brittany Edwards
Assistant Director of Administrative Services
Phone: 311 in Cary, or 919-469-4000 from outside town limits
carync.gov/311