Frequently Askes Questions

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept all forms of major credit card payments which can be made online through our invoicing system. This method allows us to expedite your project. We cannot begin a project without receiving a full deposit or deliver final project files without receiving final payment. We also accept checks.

What are your prices?

At Grounded Civics, we customize services and solutions that allow us the flexibility to work with our clients’ needs. Fees are based on project rates, which vary depending on the project; however, before the start of a project, fees are established to ensure that expectations are aligned.

What is placemaking

Placemaking is the process of creating quality places where people want to live, work, play, and learn. To create quality places, Grounded Civics believes in looking at, listening to, and asking questions of the people who live, work and play in a particular space. This allows us to discover the needs and aspirations of a community. It supports the foundation for sustainable investments in areas such as public-private partnerships, small business development, and public art activations.

How do you describe your placemaking strategy?

Grounded Civics views placemaking as a strategy to ground dollars with good deeds through amplifying the work of grassroots organizations across communities. We recognize that organizations desire to make sustainable investments yet may not have the hyper-local relationships to seed community-based organizations. Our placemaking strategy is called a constellation analysis. It focuses on partnership alignment through relationship building and community asset analysis; visioning sessions centering the voices of the community, which allows them to define the meaning of quality space; and lastly, activating public spaces to highlight the community's attributes through retail, the arts, and cultural activities.

How should I prepare for our initial consultation?

Our initial consultation will focus on the scope of your project and its intended goals or deliverables. You can best prepare for this meeting by reviewing the needs of the target audience, identifying your project idea or concept, and considering the value that adds to the target audience. Also, it’s important that you are specific about your needs and realistic about what your budget can afford.

Do you work by the hour?

Most of our fees are project-based. However, for work completed outside of the agreed scope of work for a project or for a project requiring an hourly rate, we have an hourly rate of $150 per hour.

Do you have a payment plan?

The majority of all projects are set up on a payment schedule. This allows our clients the flexibility to pay in small amounts instead of one lump sum. Before the start of any work, most projects require a non-refundable 25 percent deposit. Each subsequent payment is broken down in 25 percent increments and is required after the completion of each milestone of the project. Since payment schedules may vary based on project and needs, please refer to the terms of your agreement for more information.

How long does it take to complete a project?

The short answer is "it depends." The long answer is also, "it depends." Each project is different and the timeline can vary. We believe in doing our best work, and we aim to do our best to work within your schedule. That often requires having adequate time and the full investment from you (the client) to get things done right. We also offer an expedited service for those clients with pressing deadlines.