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Chair Foushee said that at yesterday's Social Services Board meeting she learned that <br /> the Board may want to revise this item. She asked Social Services Director Nancy Coston to <br /> speak on this. <br /> Nancy Coston said that she has received notification that Orange County will be <br /> receiving this money, but she also found out that the request could be amended for additional <br /> funds. She wants to make sure that whatever the Board accepts tonight would allow for <br /> accepting additional funds and to allow her to work with private employers. <br /> Frank Clifton said to amend the Manager's recommendation to authorize the <br /> Department of Social Services to receive additional funds as they become available and to <br /> work with the private sector to grant employment opportunities. <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Nelson, seconded by Commissioner Hemminger <br /> to authorize the acceptance of funds from the North Carolina Division of Social Services and <br /> authorize the Director of Social Services to utilize up to twenty temporary positions for <br /> employment through September 30, 2010; and authorize the Department of Social Services to <br /> receive additional funds as they become available and to work with the private sector to grant <br /> employment opportunities. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> 5. Public Hearings <br /> a. Utility Extension Fund Request <br /> The Board considered approving disbursement of the requested utility extension <br /> reimbursement for utility improvements in support of an entrepreneurial aquaculture facility in <br /> Cedar Grove and authorizing the Chair to sign the agreement. <br /> Dottie Schmitt with the Economic Development Commission summarized this item. <br /> BACKGROUND: As provided in the Attachment A of Attachment 1 (page 5) the Utility <br /> Extension Fund (Fund) Procedures that were established in 1993 were designed to encourage <br /> economic development in Orange County by funding a portion of utility improvements <br /> necessary for commercial development. The Fund procedures require a maximum 5-year <br /> payback in increased property taxes and must meet the following criteria: <br /> 1. Project must have proper zoning; <br /> 2. Project must improve job opportunities for Orange County residents; <br /> 3. Project must provide jobs with wage scales in compliance with Orange County <br /> standards; and <br /> 4. Project must have a positive fiscal impact upon Orange County government. <br /> The current Fund applicant, Taylor Fish Farm, is a state-of-the-art aquaculture facility located <br /> in the Cedar Grove Township of Orange County. The farm is housed in a "barn" slightly <br /> smaller than a football field where Tilapia is raised from fingerling through average harvest <br /> size. The custom-designed facility utilizes an indoor recirculating water system and an <br /> anabolic digestive system designed with the support of NC State aquaculture extension <br /> agency. The production facility has been sized to produce approximately 250,000 lbs of <br /> Tilapia on an annual basis. Potential expansion plans include harvesting the liquid and solid <br /> by-products of the aquaculture process as a natural source of plant food and development of a <br /> hydroponics greenhouse with nutrients supplied by the aquaculture waste products. <br />