Orange County NC Website
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2 <br />3 <br />4 <br />5 <br />6 <br />7 <br />8 <br />9 <br />10 <br />11 <br />12 <br />13 <br />14 <br />15 <br />16 <br />17 <br />18 <br />19 <br />20 <br />21 <br />22 <br />23 <br />24 <br />25 <br />26 <br />27 <br />28 <br />29 <br />30 <br />31 <br />32 <br />33 <br />34 <br />35 <br />36 <br />37 <br />38 <br />39 <br />40 <br />41 <br />42 <br />43 <br />44 <br />45 <br />46 <br />47 <br />48 <br />2. Expand Business Development Assistance to Farm Businesses. <br />Farmers need more access to business development assistance, particularly as traditional <br />agricultural markets fade and alternative enterprises are needed. This assistance includes <br />business development and planning, market research and communication, and financing <br />opportunity. (The Orange County Agricultural Economic Development Coordinator assists in <br />many of these tasks.) <br />a. Establishing a business development program specifically targeted at agricultural <br />businesses, consisting of a network of business consultants, small business <br />development counselors, and attorneys familiar with small business and agricultural <br />law who are willing at a lower cost or volunteer basis to provide assistance. <br />b. Working with North Carolina Cooperative Extension to disseminate published materials <br />on agricultural business issues to area professionals to expand their knowledge of <br />agriculture thus increasing their ability to assist farmers. <br />c. Working with Cooperative Extension and the Soil and Water Conservation District to <br />offer workshops to farmers on business planning and development, research, <br />marketing, financing, conservation funding, and estate planning. <br />d. Provide grant- writing assistance for federal, state and other non - profit funding <br />opportunities to assist with diversification, etc. <br />e. Develop a local directory of the network described in (a) above. <br />3. Improve Access to Financing and Capital. <br />Provide assistance in obtaining grants and low interest loans for business start-up, <br />expansion, retention and diversification. Orange County may wish to strengthen its existing <br />small business loan program through the Economic Development Commission (EDC) and <br />develop a new mortgage assistance program to help new farmers buy land for agricultural <br />purposes. The EDC could partner with the Agricultural Preservation Board and other <br />agricultural advisory boards to establish a ranking system to evaluate applications. For <br />example, applicants seeking to buy land already in production might receive a stronger <br />ranking. The APB might develop a farmer mentoring program to partner prospective <br />farmers with successful farmers. These are the kinds of companion programs that would <br />ensure the success of the financing program. <br />4. Expand Efforts to Promote Orange County Farm Businesses and Farm Products. <br />New residents provide opportunities for county farmers in the form of new consumers. <br />Efforts are being made to educate all residents on the association between the agricultural <br />economy, healthy eating and the life -style many have sought to achieve by locating to our <br />county. Local institutions remain another, relatively untapped, market for local products. <br />One area where local government can help farmers is in the dissemination of information <br />and the preparation of directories, both printed and online. The County is continuing its <br />efforts to encourage the public school system, the University of North Carolina at Chapel <br />Hill, and the UNC- hospital to purchase local food products whenever possible and is working <br />to develop the infrastructure needed to help facilitate this exchange. The county is <br />fortunate to house the Weaver Street Market cooperative, which is a substantial buyer of <br />locally grown products. Several areas restaurants also support local growers. <br />Draft 1012812009 Action Steps to Ensure a Viable Agricultural Community 39 <br />54 <br />