disruptive lobbying

for the innovation economy.

State and Municipal Government Relations

Novus assists clients in identifying, interfacing, and liaising with elected and appointed leaders in both state and municipal government. Our efforts span beyond leveraging our relationships to achieve your goals.  We employ campaign-tested techniques to move the dial and influence stakeholders, a tactic that results in long term policy shifts. Targeted digital advertising campaigns? Been there.  Cultivating a grassroots movement? Done that. 

Procurement

Novus advises and guides clients in dealing with Massachusetts public procurement processes.  We also assist clients in identifying potential projects and provide insight into opportunities for contract growth.  Services include understanding bid requirements, adding insight into an effective Supplier Diversity Program plan, completing required bid response forms and navigating the Commonwealth’s online eProcurement system COMMBUYS.  

Permitting & Licensing

Novus navigates complex permitting and licensing requirements for clients, including event permits and liquor licensing.  

“Novus dramatically accelerated the resolution of permitting issues surrounding the development of property that is both in a flood zone and in the buffer zone of a wetland. They are great partners.”

— Arthur Pearson, Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center

You build the community,

we build the community support.

The Novus Group views real estate development through a different lens. Unlike other shops who work only on the official approval processes, Novus approaches real estate projects with an interdisciplinary strategy to build both community and governmental support. 

Novus engages communities.

With a background in political campaigns, our team knows how to cultivate grassroot support. Novus assists developers in targeted outreach strategies that cut through vocal opposition, identify community priorities, and create shared visions that can be built and supported.  Our team employs identification and contact tools like polling, microtargeting, direct mail, new media, patch through calls and tele-town halls to build support for our clients.

Novus makes places.

Now more than ever, dynamic development projects rely on placemaking and creative techniques to illustrate a project's potential. Novus conceptualizes, plans, and executes memorable experiences to assist developers in sharing their vision for the future of a community.

Novus builds consensus.

Novus assists clients in building consensus amongst elected officials and grasstop leaders.  We serve as the eyes and ears of the developer both in City Hall and within the community.

“Novus helped us engage and connect with the community in ways we could not have done ourselves, and the company’s campaign experience and grassroots approach was a great fit for us. Their outreach to folks above and beyond those typically engaged in the development and permitting process was of great value and made a difference.”

— Mark McGowan, Skanska Development

don't fear the unknown.
fear being unknown.

A comprehensive strategy for sharing your story with the world is arguably the most critical component of building a brand. When it comes to identifying out-of-the-box tactics to gain the attention of your audience, Novus has no fear.

BRAND AND MESSAGING

Novus has a long track record of building distinctive, compelling brand messaging, particularly for those organizations who need to engage the public on a grassroots level.  Given our long history of using survey research, digital targeting and social media in addition to traditional press, we’re uniquely qualified to craft messages that work in today’s communications environment.  With political campaigns, start-ups, and companies seeking new identities, we can make your brand truly stand out or connect in authentic ways with your audience.  With established brands suddenly enmeshed in local community controversies, we can augment your existing brand with messages that resonate with the grassroots.  And with organizations suddenly besieged by crisis, we can help you manage your reputation with sometimes aggressive, sometimes more nuanced strategies. 

At Novus, we know brands matter and we’re here to make them stand out and withstand challenges. 

CONTENT AND MEDIA RELATIONS

As one of the first firms in the Internet era to tap into the emerging fields of digital targeting, content development, and new forms of advertising, content is part of who we are.  From traditional brochures and direct mail to the most sophisticated digital campaign, we know how to do both the technical and creative part of the business.

We’ve been doing media relations since we first cut our teeth in politics 20 years ago.  Our existing team has done press relations for presidential candidates, local politicians, Fortune 500 companies and disruptive upstarts.

No firm knows more about applying creative, innovative techniques to handling the press and communicating and engaging with the public. 

CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS

Our firm is filled with professionals born in the crucibles of political crises and now skilled at applying those lessons to corporate and non-profit organizations, among others.

Our firm features people who have managed and fought through some of the most high-profile campaigns and crises in the region and the nation, from Joe Biden’s first presidential campaign (which ended in crisis) to Deloitte Consulting’s Massachusetts Unemployment Fund controversy.  We’ve learned over time how to apply our skills to the unique challenges now facing large, well-known organizations.

We know how to anticipate problems, plan for challenges, and address unanticipated media mayhem.  When the crisis hits, we know how to keep our wits about us and chart a course that helps you address the problem and protect your reputation. 

operative style tactics that work.

Campaign Management

Novus professionals have led hundreds of successful campaigns across the country, and we know what it takes to achieve victory. Our team utilizes cutting edge strategies to coalesce support around controversial topics, including Hustle to solicit support via text message and CoUrbanize to garner consensus on development projects.

Direct Mail

Novus professionals create online and print design content for political, non-profit and corporate clients. Our award-winning design team can create or transform run of the mill campaign pieces into interesting, interactive content that catches the eye, persuades and motivates your audience. 

Microtargeting

Novus’ proprietary microtargeting and voter demography tools enable us to identify traits at the record-by-record level. As opinions are identified and built into Novus’ statistical model, we can predict how individuals who have not been contacted will ultimately behave. This process allows campaign voter contact efforts to focus only to those most likely to be supportive and those most likely to be persuaded by a campaign’s message.

Polling

The Novus team provides data to many of the region's most well respected pollsters and survey research companies. We offer a full suite of polling services from data collection to results analysis and insight.  Our approach helps you to understand where you are and where you need to go.

Digital Strategies

The most successful digital marketing strategies are precisely targeted at the correct audience and fully integrated with other media. At Novus, we successfully manage digital services including advertising design, media buys, advocacy platforms, and audience segmentation.