City of Charleston to host pre-proposal meeting for Gullah Geechee Heritage Preservation Project

The city of Charleston will hold a pre-proposal meeting regarding the recently released Gullah Geechee Heritage Preservation Project Request for Proposal (RFP) at 11 a.m., Wednesday, November 29, 2023, in the first floor Public Meeting Room at 2 George Street. A virtual meeting option is also available and can be accessed here.

The RFP, available here in full, invites qualified consultants with expertise in Gullah Geechee cultural heritage and historic preservation to submit a proposal to assist with technical assistance, capacity-building and community engagement related to the Gullah Geechee Heritage Preservation Project, which launched earlier this year.

During the meeting, which is not mandatory for interested respondents, city representatives will provide an overview of the project, review proposal requirements and important submittal dates, and answer questions from attendees.

Once selected, the consultant team will work directly with representatives of the 24 participating communities and area partners to plan and implement community heritage preservation projects, including oral history collection, national register nominations, historic district designation, historic markers and historic cemetery protection.

This RFP process marks the next phase in the Gullah Geechee Heritage Preservation Project, which kicked off this summer with a series of informational sessions throughout Charleston and Berkeley Counties. Input gathered from community members during these meetings shaped the project’s goals and the specific criteria outlined in this solicitation.

City of Charleston Senior Planner and Gullah Geechee Heritage Preservation Project Manager Chloe Stuber said, “The project team and its partners have worked closely with participating Gullah Geechie community members to shape this RFP according to their specific project goals. We look forward to continuing to work alongside them and encourage anyone interested in submitting a proposal to join us on Wednesday to learn more.”

About the Gullah Geechee Heritage Preservation Project

The Gullah Geechee Heritage Preservation Project is made possible by a Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) grant administered by the National Park Service, matching funds from the city of Charleston and Preservation Society of Charleston, and significant contributions in staff time and support from both Charleston County and the Town of Mt. Pleasant.

Learn more about the multi-jurisdictional Gullah Geechee Heritage Preservation Project here.