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4 <br />which shall be operated for purposes of encouraging and aiding agricultural industries and <br />business prospects for the participating jurisdictions. <br />NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of their mutual promises, Alamance <br />County, Chatham County, Durham County, and Orange County hereby agree as follows: <br />1. Purpose <br />The purpose of this Agreement is to set forth the undertakings of the Parties hereto with <br />regard to their respective contributions, obligations, and participation i n. the multi jurisdictional <br />operation of the Center. <br />2. Piedmont Food and Agricultural Processing Centel- <br />The Center. will be a regional value-added, shared-use, food and agricultural processing <br />center. This project will build capacity for local farmers to meet the increasing ``consumer <br />demand for retail and wholesale marketing of locally grown farm products in the Piedmont <br />Region of North Carolina. The Center will accommodate a range of processing needs and allow <br />for future expansion. Business development support and education, especially training for new <br />food-based businesses, developing busi ess .plans, and meeting food safety requirements will <br />allow the center to engage rural farm communities with the opportunities offered by the Center. <br />Revenue projections from user fees that prop ide ulc~ntives for sourcing locally grown farm <br />products is approximately $150,000 by year 3 of operation. «~ith gross income for clients using <br />the facility estimated at $2,651,000 per year. <br />This Center will have the potential to sew e farmers on 16,214 farms in 22 counties within <br />a 75-mile radius of Hillsborough, North Carolina, representing almost 30% of farms statewide. <br />Farmers and their rural communities as well as to~~acco processing and marketing communities <br />can benefit from participating in training and education programs, adding value to and marketing <br />local farm product: Within the 22-county area, this Center can enhance the capacity to process <br />local farm products for the 3.3 million individuals who are potential customers for the products <br />createcj at the Center. <br />The short-term goal c>f the project is to open a regional value-added shared use food and <br />agricultural prucessing Center in July of 2010 with a range of programs and equipment. The <br />success of the short term bowl will be measured by client use and revenues generated by the <br />Center, as well as training and assistance to fanners and other food entrepreneurs. The long term <br />goal is to become fin:~~cially independent by 2013. This will be accomplished by building the <br />capacity to process and market North Carolina agricultural products, thereby increasing the <br />number and diversity of farm operations that help to sustain the Piedmont Region. <br />3. Steering Committee <br />The Boards of County Commissioners of the Parties shall appoint a Steering Committee <br />to assist Orange County in successfully launching the Center. All members of the Steering <br />Committee shall be appointed by the Boards of County Commissioners of the Parties and shall <br />2 of 9 <br />