diff --git a/cdp_backend/infrastructure/Justfile b/cdp_backend/infrastructure/Justfile
index d85bf2ca..73c1c1fd 100644
--- a/cdp_backend/infrastructure/Justfile
+++ b/cdp_backend/infrastructure/Justfile
@@ -109,9 +109,9 @@ deploy-clipping key=default_key region=default_region:
 			--allow-unauthenticated
 
 # run both setup and deploy
-setup-and-deploy project region=default_region:
+setup-and-deploy project region=default_region cookiecutter_yaml=default_cookiecutter_yaml:
 	just setup {{region}}
-	just deploy {{project}}
+	just deploy {{project}} cookiecutter_yaml={{cookiecutter_yaml}}
 
 # fully teardown project
 destroy project:
@@ -126,4 +126,4 @@ clean key=default_key:
 # remove all database documents (including search index) and filestore objects
 clean-full key=default_key:
 	clean_cdp_database {{key}} --clean-index
-	clean_cdp_filestore {{key}}
\ No newline at end of file
+	clean_cdp_filestore {{key}}
diff --git a/cdp_backend/infrastructure/dev-cookiecutter-metadata.yaml b/cdp_backend/infrastructure/dev-cookiecutter-metadata.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..36e2591a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cdp_backend/infrastructure/dev-cookiecutter-metadata.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+default_context:
+    municipality: "CDP Dev Muni"
+    iana_timezone: "America/Los_Angeles"
+    governing_body_type: "other"
+    municipality_slug: "cdp-dev-muni"
+    python_municipality_slug: "cdp_dev_muni"
+    infrastructure_slug: "cdp_dev_muni_000001"
+    maintainer_or_org_full_name: "evamaxfield"
+    hosting_github_username_or_org: "CouncilDataProject"
+    hosting_github_repo_name: "cdp-dev-muni"
+    hosting_github_url: "https://github.com/CouncilDataProject/cdp-dev-muni"
+    hosting_web_app_address: "https://councildataproject.github.io/cdp-dev-muni"
+    firestore_region: "us-central"
diff --git a/dev-infrastructure/README.md b/dev-infrastructure/README.md
index 5b265977..8c865cf1 100644
--- a/dev-infrastructure/README.md
+++ b/dev-infrastructure/README.md
@@ -25,10 +25,10 @@ found in our
 
 ## Dependencies
 
-Deploying the CDP infrastructure requires having `cdp-backend` installed.
+Deploying the CDP infrastructure requires having `cdp-backend` installed along with the contributor tools.
 
 For more detailed information please see the
-[project installation details](https://github.com/CouncilDataProject/cdp-backend#installation).
+[project installation details](https://github.com/CouncilDataProject/cdp-backend#installation) and [contributing details](https://github.com/CouncilDataProject/cdp-backend/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md).
 
 ## Account Setup
 
@@ -45,14 +45,17 @@ sure the [`gcloud` SDK](https://cloud.google.com/sdk/install) is installed.
 _If this was the first time installing either of those packages, it is recommended to
 restart your terminal after installation._
 
-After `gcloud` has both been installed and terminal restarted, run the
-following commands to log in to gcloud: `just login`
-
 ## Create a New Project and Deploy the Infrastructure
 
 ```bash
-get_cdp_infrastructure_stack {OPTIONAL: dir path to store to}
+get_cdp_infrastructure_stack {dir path to store to}
+just login
 just init {project-name}
+```
+
+Attach your billing account to the GCP project you just created in the [GCP console](https://console.cloud.google.com/).
+
+```
 just setup-and-deploy {project-name} {OPTIONAL: region}
 ```
 
@@ -72,12 +75,22 @@ just setup-and-deploy cdp-eva-dev-001
 just deploy {project-name}
 ```
 
+Or optionally passing cookiecutter yaml
+```bash
+just deploy {project-name} cookiecutter-yaml={path to yaml file}
+```
+
 Example:
 
 ```bash
 just deploy cdp-eva-dev-001
 ```
 
+Or optionally passing cookiecutter yaml
+```bash
+just deploy cdp-eva-dev-001 cookiecutter-yaml='some/fakepath.yaml'
+```
+
 Enable video / audio clipping:
 
 ```bash
@@ -109,4 +122,14 @@ with each collection model.
 Useful links for managing Cloud Functions:
 
 * [Pre-installed System Packages](https://cloud.google.com/functions/docs/reference/system-packages)
-* [Execution Environments](https://cloud.google.com/functions/docs/concepts/execution-environment)
\ No newline at end of file
+* [Execution Environments](https://cloud.google.com/functions/docs/concepts/execution-environment)
+
+## Troubleshooting
+
+If you receive a `firebase: not found` error at any point in the deployment process, make sure that you have the Firebase CLI installed.
+
+`Invalid project selection, please verify project cdp-isaac-dev-2023 exists and you have access.`
+- Run `firebase projects:list` and check whether your project is listed
+- Run `firebase projects:addfirebase {{project-name}}`
+
+If you are running into issues with various packages or tools not being installed, it is highly recommended to start a fresh virtual env.