Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: May 5, 2009 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. ~-..~j <br />SUBJECT: Presentation by EDC Chair Anita Badrock on the Economic Development <br />Commission's White Paper on Developing a Solar Cluster in Orange County <br />DEPARTMENT: Economic Development <br />PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) no <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />A. Letter of Recommendation from <br />EDC <br />B. "Development of a Solar Cluster in <br />Orange County" White Paper <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Brad Broadwell, 245-2326 <br />Yvonne Scarlett, 245-2325 <br />PURPOSE: To present information and solicit support from the Board of County <br />Commissioners on the development of a solar cluster in Orange County in preparation for <br />moving ahead with investigating the need for incentives and appropriate infrastructure build out <br />in the Mebane (Buckhorn Village) economic development district (EDD). <br />BACKGROUND: Anita Badrock, Chair of the Economic Development Commission, will be <br />presenting a white paper which has been developed and is supported by the Economic <br />Development Commission. Although much effort and activity has begun on developing a solar <br />cluster in Orange County the EDC would like to formalize it as an objective of the program. This <br />objective fits within the strategy to satisfy the general economic development goal as provided <br />in the Orange County 2030 Comprehensive Plan to create "viable and sustainable economic <br />development that contributes to both property and sales tax revenues, and .enhances high- <br />quality employment opportunities for County residents". <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: There will be a significant financial impact. It will need to be determined <br />after proposing and gaining support of efforts to utilize tax incentives and realize costs <br />associated by the required infrastructure development in the EDD. <br />RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends to the Board that this become a <br />serviceable objective of the Economic Development Department resulting in measured <br />outcomes to enhance our County's commercial tax base. <br />