Grant Consulting for Community and Economic Development and Local Government Planning and Support Services
Firm Overview
Monroe & Associates, LLC is a professional services firm which provides local government consulting, planning, mapping and grants procurement and management services throughout the State of Alabama. Initially begun in 1979 as Phillip Roth & Associates, the firm expanded in October 1996 to include two principals – Phillip Roth and Kathy McHugh, along with a full professional project development and management staff. In December, 2009, Kathy McHugh left the firm to relocate closer to her family in Virginia. Currently the firm is operating with Susan Monroe as the sole managing partner due to the passing of Phillip Roth in May of 2006 and the departure of Kathy McHugh in 2009.
The firm provides professional services and assistance to a diverse group of public and non-profit sector clients throughout the State of Alabama. Our client base includes municipal and county governments and their associated boards, water and sewer boards, industrial development boards and authorities.
Our goal at Monroe & Associates is to establish and maintain long-term relationships with our clients whereby we can work with local officials to successfully plan, develop and implement projects to meet the unique needs of each community. We have assembled a staff of highly qualified, experienced professionals to effectively address the diverse needs of our clients.
Our present staff consists of one principal, two project managers, a mapping/graphic/computer consultant, a housing manager, and other support personnel. The principal serves in a leadership role and is available for project guidance on technical issues due to her years of experience. Two project managers develop and administer specific grant and other projects to assist local governments meet funding and other needs. The principal and project managers oversee and direct all project administrative and management functions with support from other staff members. Our individualized project management responsibility ensures quality assurance and control as well as uniform and consistent management of administrative activities. In this manner we are able to build strong working relationships with our clients.
We have a proven track record of providing quality project development and administrative services in the timeframe that is most advantageous to our client. Our firm is able to promptly respond to the project development and implementation needs of each of our clients.
Our location in Prattville is convenient to the numerous state and federal funding regulatory agencies which have offices in the State capital. Agencies located in Montgomery that are particularly important to our clients include the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA), Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) and the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT). Our proximity to these agencies facilitates our staff’s communication, coordination and scheduling with the appropriate agencies. In addition, it assists our clients in their dealings with other various agencies and associations in Montgomery. Our central location in Prattville further enhances our ability to meet with state officials and agencies on behalf of our clients in a timely or “as-needed” basis.
Qualifications and Experience
Of The Firm's Personnel
Monroe & Associates, LLC is a statewide planning and development consulting firm that is located in Prattville, Alabama. All project services required for your community development project will be provided through this office.
At this time the firm is operating with one principal – Susan Monroe – who leads the firm. She is a highly qualified professional who has in-depth project development and management experience – see Attachment B. Three project managers, Dave Thornton, Barbara Barnhill, and Paul Monroe use their extensive experience to provide support for local governments from project development to implementation to closeout. Other specific project support is available as necessary for various project needs.
Susan Monroe started with Roth, McHugh in 1997 and left in 2000 to return in 2006. With over 15 years of experience in grant development and administration with various funding agencies, she purchased the business from Kathy McHugh in January, 2010. She brings broad-based experience with local government to the firm; first, as the administrator of a CDBG entitlement community in Alabama as well as a City Manager out-of-state. Through this experience, she is very familiar with the issues and needs of communities. She is experienced in all phases of project development and administration and has developed numerous successful grant projects as well as developed planning, policy and personnel studies.
Dave Thornton has been with the firm since 2009. Dave's experience with Roth, McHugh & Associates has included application development and project implementation for various grant projects including CDBG, EDA, ARC, etc. Dave manages all project accounting within the office, preparing funding requests to various agencies, maintaining financial records and keeping your community project on sound financial footing. He also specializes in Labor Standards and Davis-Bacon compliance to meet Federal regulations. By tying these two functions, our office ensures that contractors provide adequate compliance documentation prior to being paid, thereby ensuring that your community development project meets ADECA monitoring standards.
Barbara Barnhill started with the firm in January, 2010. Barbara has extensive experience with community development, museum management and historical projects. She has successfully written and implemented grants from various agencies for a variety of activities including business development, downtown revitalization, downtown and museum events, special programs, façade grants, etc. She will develop grant applications and implement projects, especially those which focus on historical issues and downtown revitalization. She excels with strong administrative and professional skills to assist your community.
Paul Monroe started with the firm in April, 2010. From a background in business and management, Paul has held positions in retail and restaurant management as well as banking. Paul Monroe provides project support activities including survey team leader, mapping, environmental review, handicap assessment, code enforcement and planning services. His varied experience includes retail and restaurant management, banking and non-profit services for disadvantaged persons. He brings a wide range of business and management experience to assist with project development and implementation. He has experience working with various constituencies including low to moderate income persons, professionals and governmental officials.
Sarah Thornton provides project and clerical support as a student intern. She specializes in graphic design for the office including preparation of photographic layouts for grant applications and plans as well as for marketing materials. As she continues to improve her skills and complete her educational goals, she plans to continue with the company and eventually run the business.
Additional Consulting Expertise
Monroe & Associates, LLC provides a wide range of professional consulting services to local governments. Our current staff has experience and expertise in a variety of projects and programs, which will benefit your community.
Present staff members of the firm have direct experience developing and administering projects through a wide variety of State and Federal Programs in addition to the CDBG project development, application preparation, implementation and management skills discussed in other portions of this Proposal.
Additional areas in which Monroe & Associates’ staff has demonstrated experience and/or expertise include:
Economic Development projects financed with assistance through various programs including:
CDBG Economic Development Fund
Economic Development Administration (EDA)
State of Alabama Site Preparation Grants
Alabama Department of Transportation Industrial Access Grants
Planning projects including Downtown Revitalization Plans, Comprehensive Plans, Land Use Plans, Zoning Ordinances, Subdivision Regulations, Water System Plans and Annexation Studies
Housing Authority Programs such as development and submission of Five-Year and Annual Agency Plans, Public Housing Drug Elimination Program (PHDEP) Grants, and Community Surveys
Historical preservation projects including area-wide Historic and Architectural Surveys and National Register of Historic Places Nominations
U.S. Department of Justice – COPS Grant Programs
Alabama Historical Commission Alabama Cultural Resources Preservation Trust Fund Grants
State Historical Park and Historical Site Maintenance and Repair Grant Program
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Additional Areas of Consulting Experience Provided by the Firm – Continued
Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) Projects
Alabama Forestry Commission Urban and Community Forestry Grants
Small Business Administration (SBA) Tree Planting Grants
Handicap (Section 504/ADA) Self Evaluations and Transition Plans
Demographic Analyses
Socio-Economic Studies
Personnel Studies, Personnel Descriptions and Organization Plans
Development of Compensation Schedules
Wage and Salary Comparability Analyses
Financial Management Policies & Procedures
As a result of our staff’s knowledge of and experience with many different programs and projects, Monroe & Associates, LLC is often able to obtain grant monies for specific projects from a variety of sources. In some cases, we have been able to combine funds from other programs with existing or proposed CDBG projects and substantially increase the impact and effect of such projects on the needs of the community.
At Monroe & Associates, LLC, we strive to stay knowledgeable and up to date on all financial aid programs available including federal, state and private sources. Serving as an extension of your local government, we are committed to obtaining all possible externally generated funding sources that may meet all of your community’s needs to include infrastructure, economic development, law enforcement, planning, public housing programs, as well as many other services.
Additional information concerning specific projects may be provided upon request.
