BRATTLEBORO — RE: “BDCC: Out-of-state firm offered the best proposal” [Letters, May 22]:
This letter does not address the fundamental issues that my piece [“Ignoring the talent in our own backyard,” Viewpoint, May 15] raised.
1) The RFP process was not communicated to my website, Brattleborology, as a contender nor as a media outlet to share the fact that this amazing grant opportunity existed to Brattleboro and the Windham County region that we promote tirelessly, for free. Seven RFPs for a grant of “just” $100,000 is still a small sample of vendors for the entire southern Vermont region.
2) The Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation turned this RFP around in about two months and rushed to provide an out-of-state firm these funds. In my personal experience with this organization on its website project, my time was rushed and no result manifested (irrespective of my involvement). How long until we don't see results for this grant? And how would we know?
3) The BDCC doesn't have an up-to-date website. Because it cannot share grant opportunities with the public this way, major opportunities such as this one are missed.
4) After my personal experience with the BDCC as a potential vendor, I should have been on the mailing list (if there is one?) advising me of this opportunity in my role as web developer and community marketer (Brattleborology). Brattleborology should have been contacted since we have proven more successful in marketing Brattleboro than any local organization.
5) No transparency. It's too late to tell this story, BDCC. We should have known about this in advance. You just don't like that because you didn't market the story, I did.
Six days after I told the story, BDCC employee Laura Sibilia attacked me on the Brattleborology Facebook page. That's not how it works. And not a single person has come to BDCC's defense. That's pretty remarkable, given the amount of money this organization has disbursed in the region.
An apology is in order, not an explanation. The BDCC's explanation has come too late and doesn't satisfactorily address the issues my piece raised.
We need transparency. If you're committed to local vendors and organizations, BDCC, you should include them in the conversation, not attack them for raising very basic questions.
Does the BDCC's explanation work for you, Brattleboro?
In respect to the output of Atlas Advertising in Denver, Colo., we'll be watching very closely.