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Economic Development Advisory Board

Orange County · Economic Development Advisory Board
Tuesday, September 9, 2025

Advisory board meeting Grants and outside fundingBudget and appropriations

Agenda document Minutes Watch Meeting recap

What was decided

  1. Approved Approval of Minutes Approved unanimously on a motion by Dave Gephart, seconded by Sharon Hill.

Read from the agenda's recorded outcomes. Where the board published minutes, those are the record — this is a pointer to them.

What's on this agenda

Orange County's Economic Development Advisory Board reviews a draft strategic plan for the county's Economic Development Department, presented by consultant Crystal Morphis. The board also considers updated grant application guidelines, a vacant seat on its grant review committee, and a director's report on commercial and industrial projects.

Summarized from the published agenda. Read the agenda itself before acting on it.

Meeting recap

What happened, drawn from the records published after the meeting. Minutes

The board approved its July 28 minutes unanimously, on a motion by Dave Gephart seconded by Sharon Hill. Consultant Crystal Morphis of Creative Economic Development Consulting then presented the department's draft strategic plan. She covered a proposed vision and mission, six strategic goals with action steps, and recommendations for the county's grant program and Article 46 sales tax revenue. Morphis told the board any project recommendation would go through the County Manager to the Board of County Commissioners, and said Orange County is the only county in North Carolina with the quarter-cent sales tax. Staff plan to work the plan into FY26-27 budget requests over the next few months, with a presentation to county commissioners in the new year.

Amanda Garner told the board about updated grant guidelines, moving applications to three cycles a year with deadlines of October 31, February 28 and June 30. Sharon Hill volunteered to fill the grant review committee's vacant seat.

How the votes went

The board approved its July 28 minutes unanimously, on a motion by member Dave Gephart seconded by member Sharon Hill. No other votes were recorded.

From the published minutes.

Speaking at this meeting

Orange County's own rules for public comment — check them before you rely on anything here.

Agenda items (6)

Procedural · 2Minutes approval · 1Presentation · 1Discussion item · 1Staff or committee report · 1
  1. Call to Order
    Procedural
  2. Approval of Minutes
    Minutes approval
    The board considers approval of minutes from its July 28, 2025 meeting.
    Approved unanimously on a motion by Dave Gephart, seconded by Sharon Hill.
  3. Old Business: Economic Development Department Strategic Plan Draft
    Presentation Budget and appropriationsGrants and outside funding
    Consultant Crystal Morphis of Creative Economic Development Consulting presents a draft strategic plan for the Economic Development Department.
  4. New Business: New Grant Guidelines & Volunteer Opportunity, Grant Committee Vacancy
    Discussion item Grants and outside funding
    Staff present updated grant application guidelines and seek a board member to fill a vacant seat on the grant review committee.
    Sharon Hill volunteered for the vacant seat on the grant review committee.
  5. Directors Report: Update on Commercial & Industrial Projects
    Staff or committee report
    Economic Development Director Steve Brantley is to give an update on commercial and industrial projects.
  6. Adjournment
    Procedural

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