Municipal Marketing

On November 16, 2011 the City Council of the City of Chicago granted authority to the Chief Financial Officer and the Department of Finance to identify innovative marketing opportunities for City assets to create new revenue streams for purposes of funding essential City services that are critical to serve Chicagoans.

Our Mission and the Rules of the Road

1. Protect the brand and visual integrity of the City of Chicago. Designs and displays should possess the integrity and character that reflect the values of the City.
2. Avoid oversaturation of the outdoor advertising market. Designs and displays respect and do not damage architectural and historical landmarks.
3. Focus on fewer, larger initiatives rather than many smaller ones. Municipal Marketing initiatives are done tastefully and in a strategically limited way to ensure it does not oversaturate City landscapes or the outdoor advertising market in any way.
4. Creativity should be a core goal. Designs and displays should provide a venue for creativity and artistic expression with a focus on cutting edge technology to ensure Chicago remains a leader in this space.
5. Be honest about the City’s goal. Develop sustainable revenue streams that allow the City to protect critical city services and taxpayer dollars. 
6. Align social interests with corporate marketers’ goals. Ensure that community interests and public awareness and safety are also being served through real-time public service messaging and emergency notifications.

Announcements, News and Updates

• Request for Qualifications for Municipal Marketing Broker Services, Due Date: 3/4/2014 Download RFQ

• The City of Chicago seeks Proposals to Activate Neighborhood Plazas. The RFP due date of 9/30/13 has been extended to 10/15/13   

• 3/12/13 -  Questions and Answers to the Street Level Digital Media initiative released on 2/26/13

• 2/26/13 - Municipal Marketing opportunity open for Street Level Digital Media initiative to Qualified RFQ Respondents- Responses due Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Download document.

• Notice of Clarifications - 6/1/13

• City of Chicago Municipal Marketing Committee to conduct a Municipal Marketing Seminar on Thursday, January 31st at 2 p.m. at the Chicago Cultural Center. Click here for details.

• Mayor Emanuel Announces Municipal Marketing Initiatives

• City of Chicago Passes Municipal Marketing Ordinance 

 RFQ

 Request for Qualifications for Municipal Marketing Broker Services, Due Date: 3/4/2014.  

• Download the RFQ

• Notice of Clarifications

• View List of Qualified Respondents as of December 2013  

The RFQ for Municipal Marketing Broker Services is an open RFQ and will be reviewed quarterly. Submissions are welcome after 12/3/2013 and will be reviewed the following quarter.

Municipal Marketing Committee

With the City’s new municipal marketing effort, the CFO will offer marketing opportunities in the City to interested firms. Defined guidelines will guarantee that they do not diminish the integrity of Chicago’s character and landscape. To ensure this, the effort will be overseen by the Municipal Marketing Committee, which is comprised of the CFO and representatives from relevant city agencies including Law, Ethics, CDOT and Fleet and Facilities Management.

To learn more about the Municipal Marketing initiative, please read the following Municipal Marketing Framework:

• Municipal Marketing Framework

Municipal Marketing Advisory Council

The Advisory Council provides leadership and advice to the Municipal Marketing Committee of the City with respect to the development of municipal marketing programs by participating in a thorough and information-rich review of proposals, supporting clear open dialogue among committee members and city staff, offering guidance and direction throughout the comprehensive process of review, and assisting the city in determining sustainable revenue generating marketing opportunities that will allow the City to protect critical city services and save taxpayer dollars.

• Advisory Council Announcement

• Advisory Council Report

Current Initiatives

• Chicago Digital Network
• BigBelly Solar Recycling Bins

Chicago Digital Network

Currently, the City of Chicago has about 1,300 registered billboards that only provide $1 million in revenue to the City in fees and fines. The Chicago Digital Network, which represents 34 sites along the City’s expressways, will bring in a guaranteed $15 million in 2013 and more than $155 million over the life of the 20-year contract. The digital signs will be built through a new joint venture between Interstate Media and JCDecaux, known as Interstate JCDecaux, LLC.

• Interstate JCDecaux – City of Chicago 2013 Digital Network Agreement 

BigBelly Solar Recycling Bins

There are nearly 400 BigBelly Solar Recycling Bins (SRB’s) located in Chicago’s central business district. The City of Chicago has negotiated an agreement with Vector Media to market advertising space positioned on the outside of each container which provides a revenue sharing opportunity for the City.

View the Vector Media Contract

Contact Us

For questions and more information about the next RFQ submission, please email: marketing@cityofchicago.org

If you have ideas or feedback on the initiative, please email: marketingideas@cityofchicago.org