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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: January 21, 2010 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. ' A <br />SUBJECT: Update on Draft Interlocal Cooperation Agreement for the Piedmont Food & <br />Agricultural Processin Center <br />DEPARTMENT: Economic Development PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Noah Ranells, Economic Development, <br />245-2330 <br />Brad Broadwell, Economic Development <br />245-2325 <br />John Roberts, County Attorney, 245- <br />2318 <br />PURPOSE: To provide an update to the BOCC on the proposed Interlocal Cooperation <br />Agreement by and among the counties of Alamance, Chatham, Durham, and Orange to govern <br />the Piedmont Food & Agricultural Processing Center and authorize staff to submit a draft <br />Interlocal Cooperation Agreement to partner county Boards of County Commissioners <br />BACKGROUND: At the February 19, 2008 regular meeting of the BOCC, a resolution was <br />unanimously approved to "...formally allocate the former Orange Enterprise Building on Valley <br />Forge Road in Hillsborough for development of a regional value-added shared-use food and <br />agricultural processing center". In addition, the same resolution recommended that "the <br />governing board of the Center become a 501(c)3". During 2008 and 2009, successful grant <br />applications yielded $1,098,000 in state and federal. funds dedicated to the renovation of the <br />500 Valley Forge Road structure as well as equipment purchase and first year operation of the <br />facility. <br />On October 20, 2009, the BOCC approved a contract with Corley Redfoot Zack for architectural <br />services associated with the Piedmont Food and Agricultural Processing (PFAP) Center. <br />Current efforts focus on finalizing equipment selection based on the prioritized needs of the <br />facility. Construction drawings are expected in February 2010 and will be followed with a <br />bidding process for construction. Estimated date of opening is August 2010. <br />There have been conversations among elected officials in all four counties and among some <br />staff members in each county. The project generally has the support of all counties but the <br />`technical' issues associated with formation of the 501(c)3 non-profit; developing a viable <br />business plan; and finalizing commitments of the parties related to on-going funding; along with <br />