Public Relations Services

The Vendor is required to provide comprehensive public relations services on an as-needed-basis.
- Skills, experience and knowledge to conduct public relations services, including marketing strategy, media relations and crisis communication services to assist agency in maintaining effective communication with stakeholders, industry, media outlets, agency communities, and other interested parties.
- Agency operates on a 24-hour-a-day, 7-days-a-week basis.
- Provide media relations support in any crisis situation that may occur in the course of operating, maintaining, managing or otherwise conducting the business of the agency.
- Marketing Strategy for Stakeholders, Industry, and Community
•    Stakeholders: Support timely and accurate incident response communications for minor incidents, outages, and crisis management.
•    Industry partners: Collaborate with the city to strengthen agency visibility and demonstrate operational efficiency to the shipping industry and beneficial cargo owners.
•    Investors: Communicate performance and financial information to current and potential bondholders.
•    Community: Promote awareness of the benefits provided by agency to adjacent and regional communities.
- Media Relations
•    Serve as agency primary media liaison by proactively managing relationships with news outlets; researching and responding to media inquiries; coordinating interviews; drafting, pitching, and distributing press releases; and providing comprehensive media relations support.
•    Produce original content, including professional photography and videography, and maintain a high quality content library to support media relations, social media, digital platforms, presentations, and other agency communications needs.
•    Create, design, write, produce, and distribute authorized marketing and communications collateral, including copywriting, graphic design, printing, and digital distribution.
•    Develop strategic media programs and materials designed to secure positive editorial coverage in support of agency initiatives, funding priorities, and operational and financial achievements.
•    Plan and execute a comprehensive promotional campaign for the annual agency Emergency
•    Exercise, including pre-event outreach, media pitching, and on-site coordination to secure attendance and coverage by local, regional, and industry media outlets.
•    Research, develop, and maintain media information packages for Board-approved initiatives, incorporating data and analysis provided by agency and its consultants.
•    Draft, edit, and refine agency communications materials, including speeches, presentations, briefing documents, and other written content.
•    Prepare comprehensive information packages in support of legislative briefings, stakeholder meetings, and funding advocacy efforts.
•    Coordinate and support special event planning and execution, as requested, including media, stakeholders, and community engagement.
•    Support community relations and outreach efforts to build grassroots, stakeholders, and legislative awareness and support for agency initiatives and funding programs.
•    Attend public meetings, hearings, and community events at the request of agency staff.
•    Post weekly electronic news on agency internal SharePoint site related to ports, goods movement, freight, and transportation issues.
- Social Media
•    Develop and implement a strategic social media approach aligned with agency mission, initiatives, and target audiences.
•    Expand and strengthen agency social media presence to increase visibility, engagement, and awareness among key audiences: stakeholders, industry partners, and the community.
•    Create and maintain a structured content calendar to ensure consistent, timely, and relevant messaging across platforms.
•    In close coordination with agency, manage day-to-day posting, monitoring, and audience engagement across agency social media channels.
•    Leverage original photography and video content to enhance storytelling and improve audience reach and engagement.
•    Track, analyze, and report on social media performance, using data and insights to refine strategy and improve results.
- Crisis Communications
•    Developing clear, accurate statements and talking points that describe the incident, response actions, and agency role, as well as the roles of partner agencies and emergency responders.
•    Identifying and assessing impacted stakeholders and audiences.
•    Conducting proactive media outreach and coordinating press briefings or press conferences, as required.
•    Drafting and distributing timely press releases and media updates.
•    Providing media training, messaging guidance, and real-time counsel to agency spokespersons to ensure effective, consistent, and timely communications.