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Economic Development Advisory Board

Orange County · Economic Development Advisory Board
Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Advisory board meeting Grants and outside fundingAppointments and personnelContracts and procurement

Agenda document Minutes Watch Meeting recap

What was decided

  1. Approved Approval of Minutes Approved unanimously

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

Grant rules, a pending economic development strategy, and a Chapel Hill nonprofit's work with disabled adults filled most of the agenda. Orange County's Economic Development Advisory Board planned to review revised guidelines for the Business and Agricultural Investment grant programs, including a new requirement that recipients report the jobs and sales their grants generate. The board also expected updates on a countywide Economic Development Strategic Plan, for which the county fielded 11 proposals, and on revised performance targets headed to the Board of Commissioners under the county's Vibrant & Diverse Economy strategic-plan goal.

Also on the agenda: a presentation from the Blue Hill Event Center's executive director on the venue's programs for employees with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and the board's own annual report and work plan, due to the county clerk by January 17, 2025.

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 September 10 minutes and heard from Blue Hill Event Center director Lisa Kaylie about the venue's employment programs for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Staff walked through the revised Business and Agricultural Investment grant guidelines, including a new one-year follow-up expenditure report and a "change of use" form for recipients who can't complete their original projects; members discussed how to define a living wage and give part-time workers flexibility under the rules.

On the county's Economic Development Strategic Plan, the board's review committee narrowed 11 proposals to three finalists, to be interviewed the week of November 19, with a firm chosen by December 4. Amanda Garner outlined two performance measures Orange County plans to bring to the Board of Commissioners for its Vibrant & Diverse Economy goal: a 20% increase in the assessed value of taxable non-residential property by June 2029, and one-year survival rates of 80% for Business Investment grant recipients and 95% for Agricultural Investment grant recipients. The board still needs a volunteer to serve as its liaison to the Orange County Visitors Bureau's advisory board.

How the votes went

Members approved the September 10, 2024 minutes unanimously. The minutes record no other recorded votes.

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 (11)

Staff or committee report · 4Procedural · 3Discussion item · 2Minutes approval · 1Presentation · 1
  1. Call to Order
    Procedural
    Kristen Young called the meeting to order at 11:35 a.m.
  2. Approval of Minutes
    Minutes approval
    Members voted to approve the minutes of the September 10, 2024 meeting.
    Approved unanimously
  3. Blue Hill Event Center presentation
    Presentation
    Blue Hill Event Center executive director Lisa Kaylie described the venue's services and its employment opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their support staff.
  4. 2025 meeting calendar
    Procedural
    Staff shared draft 2025 meeting dates and asked members to suggest meeting sites in Carrboro and Chapel Hill.
  5. Annual report and work plan
    Staff or committee report
    Staff said the board's annual report and work plan is due to the county clerk by January 17, 2025, and that the board chair will present it to the Board of Commissioners in early 2025.
  6. Visitors Bureau liaison seat
    Discussion item Appointments and personnel
    John Kim asked about the board's liaison relationship with the Orange County Visitors Bureau's advisory board. Steve Brantley said the board still needs a member to volunteer for that liaison seat, held by the hotel and hospitality representative.
  7. Business and Agricultural Investment grant guidelines
    Staff or committee report Grants and outside funding
    Amanda Garner reviewed revised guidelines for the Business and Agricultural Investment grant programs, including new reporting on jobs and sales generated by recipients, a "change of use" form, and a one-year follow-up expenditure report. Members discussed the living wage standard and outreach to minority-owned businesses, and staff said the Chamber has hired a Business Success Navigator with the county and the towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro for that outreach.
  8. Vibrant & Diverse Economy performance measures
    Discussion item Grants and outside funding
    Amanda Garner presented two performance measures for the county's Vibrant & Diverse Economy strategic-plan goal, headed to the Board of Commissioners in early 2025: a 20% increase in the assessed value of non-residential property by June 2029, and one-year survival rates of 80% for Business Investment grant recipients and 95% for Agricultural Investment grant recipients.
  9. Economic Development Strategic Plan RFP
    Staff or committee report Contracts and procurement
    The county received 11 proposals for its Economic Development Strategic Plan. A review committee led by Joy Mercer will interview the top three firms the week of November 19 and expects to choose one by December 4, with work starting in January.
  10. Director's Report
    Staff or committee report
    Steve Brantley updated the board on the county's commercial and industrial development projects and international economic development leads.
  11. Adjournment
    Procedural
    Kristen Young adjourned the meeting at 12:40 p.m.

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