Outreach and Partnerships

Developing Stakeholder Agreements

An important aspect of stakeholder engagement is developing written agreements that express participants' interest, support, and commitment to the project. Types of agreements can include:

  • Resolution of Support—A resolution expresses general interest and support for the project without specifying any further commitment or involvement on the part of the agency. For example, the ICM team may request and receive a Resolution of Support (PDF) from the local Council of Governments (COG).
  • Project Charter—The Project Charter describes the initial stakeholder agreement and responsibilities. While not a legally binding document, stakeholders sign the Charter to express their commitment to the project.
  • Cooperative Agreement and/or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)—These documents are legally binding and take more time to draft, review, and execute. They often require review by the agency's legal advisor. The MOU for the I-80 ICM project (PDF) illustrates this type of agreement.

In addition to specific agreements, stakeholders also contribute to other project documents such as:

  • Letters of Support for funding applications—Stakeholder support can be vital in securing funding.