Amanda McDaniel

Administrative Manager

Expertise:

Amanda McDaniel supports Hometown Consulting’s internal operations, administrative systems, financial coordination, and client service processes. Her role helps ensure that projects, contracts, billing, documentation, scheduling, and day-to-day business functions are organized and reliable.

Amanda provides the behind-the-scenes structure that allows the consulting team to remain responsive to client communities. Her work supports consistent communication, accurate records, financial organization, and the administrative follow-through needed to serve municipalities professionally.

For rural communities and public-sector clients, this operational support matters. Amanda helps strengthen the firm’s ability to deliver clear, timely, and organized service across multiple projects, meetings, reports, and client priorities.

Credentials:

Business Administration from Bluefield State College - Bluefield, West Virginia

Services Include:

• Comprehensive Plan Development or Plan Updates 
• 3-5 Year Strategic Action Plan
• Downtown Revitalization and Corridor Strategies 
• Housing Market Analysis and Redevelopment Guidance 
• Public Engagement and Survey Facilitation

Services Include:

• Existing Business and Developer Assistance
• Market Gap Analysis and Target Sector Identification 
• Development of Incentive Districts (TIF, BDD, Enterprise Zones) 
• Grant Research and Readiness Assessment
• Public-Private Partnership Facilitation 

Services Include:

• Development of Incentive Programs and Policies (TIF, BDD, EZ, RLF) 
• Incentive Program Administration (TIF, BDD, EZ, RLF) 
• Placemaking Initiatives and Streetscape Enhancements
• Project Monitoring and Compliance Tracking 

Services Include:

• Website Audit and Content Enhancement Recommendations
• Economic Development Website Content and ED Page Management 
• Business Start-Up Guides and Entrepreneurial Support Resources
• Marketing Materials for Available Properties and Community Assets
• Marketing Materials for Destination Assets

Services Include:

• Zoning, Land Use, and Property Information Maps
• Tax Increment Financing (TIF), Business Development District (BDD), Enterprise Zone (EZ), and other Incentive District Mapping 
• Available Sites, Redevelopment Opportunity, and Priority Demolition Maps 
• Building Use Inventories and Business Mix Analysis 
• Additional Mapping Such As: Destination Assets and Historic Districts

Services Include:

• Budget Development and Financial Planning 
• Grant Management and Compliance Reporting 
• Board Reports and Strategic Communication 
• Code and Ordinance Review
• Project Management

Amanda Sampson

Design & Operations Director

Expertise:

Amanda Sampson brings a unique combination of design, communication, municipal operations, and community development experience to Hometown Consulting. Her work helps communities present information clearly, engage the public effectively, and turn complex plans, programs, and projects into materials that are professional, understandable, and actionable.

Amanda’s background includes graphic design, publication design, marketing, website management, photography, public education, tourism promotion, municipal administration, finance, planning, zoning, and Tax Increment Financing support. She has helped develop community marketing materials, public-facing reports, exhibits, websites, educational resources, event materials, and visual tools that strengthen communication between local governments, residents, businesses, and development partners.

For rural communities that often operate with limited staff and limited communications capacity, Amanda provides the design, organization, and operational support needed to make local initiatives look professional, feel accessible, and move forward efficiently.

Credentials:

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design - Illinois Institute of Art, Schaumburg 

Cole McDaniel

President & Principal Consultant

Expertise:

Cole McDaniel leads Hometown Consulting with a focus on municipal administration, economic development, redevelopment strategy, and project implementation. His work centers on helping rural and small-town communities strengthen local capacity, attract investment, support existing businesses, and move priority projects from concept to completion.

Cole has extensive experience working directly with municipalities on business attraction and retention, downtown revitalization, grant strategy, Tax Increment Financing, Business Development Districts, Enterprise Zones, revolving loan funds, and other local development tools. He has helped communities structure incentive programs, secure funding, advance redevelopment projects, and communicate complex initiatives in a way that is practical, transparent, and board-ready.

His strength is combining big-picture strategy with day-to-day implementation. For communities that need additional administrative capacity, economic development leadership, or project management support, Cole brings a hands-on approach focused on results, accountability, and long-term community impact.

Credentials:

Bachelor of Business Administration – Lincoln College
Peoria Magazine - Forty Leaders Under 40 - 2022 Award Recipient

Matt Fick

Vice - President & Principal Consultant

Expertise:

Matt Fick brings extensive experience in municipal administration, planning, zoning, economic development, and redevelopment implementation. His background gives Hometown Consulting clients a strong technical resource for land use decisions, development review, incentive districts, site planning, and community growth strategies.

Matt has worked on a wide range of municipal and economic development initiatives, including Tax Increment Financing, Enterprise Zone programming, Business Development District implementation, commercial development planning, site selection, redevelopment negotiations, and public-private partnerships. His experience helps communities evaluate opportunities realistically, align development with local goals, and create strategies that can be implemented within the capacity of small and rural governments.

Matt’s combination of planning expertise, administrative experience, and business-minded problem solving makes him especially valuable to communities working through growth, redevelopment, zoning modernization, downtown investment, and long-term land use decisions.

Credentials:

Master of Business Administration – Illinois State University
Bachelor of Science in Community and Regional Planning – Iowa State University
AICP Designation – American Institute of Certified Planners