I need a developer to put together, on a Drupal platform, a next generation community and content site. I intend to use the technical platform developed as the base for a series of similar sites in specific vertical niches. The initial site will be a place for sailboat sailors to find news, community and other resources.
I have funds set aside in the six figures for launch of the initial sites (not just for site development, but for development, hiring of editorial staff, ongoing technical maintenance, marketing, etc.). Subsequent to that, if early results justify further development, I have a line on sources of expanded funding.
I need someone to develop the initial site and the underlying technical package that will be used for all sites. After noodling around with Drupal for about a year, I believe that Drupal is an ideal platform for the project, but I will listen to those more technically astute if they have better ideas.
The core modules seem to exist in some form already in the Drupal and MySpace communities. If a necessary feature is missing, and if development is cost effective, I can fund completion or development of the missing modules, with the code, of course, to be donated back to the appropriate open source community. I am hoping, of course, to minimize up front development cost by using what has already been developed, while helping others minimize their costs by my contributing back what is developed for this project.