Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
26 <br /> 1 spectrum. Our proximity to major transportation and distribution corridors and resources has <br /> 2 only become more valuable as similar properties around us are developed and removed from <br /> 3 available inventory. It's the right time to do something different---if we're serious about "selling <br /> 4 this house." The next step is going to involve spending some money. <br /> 5 <br /> 6 This plan is a clear and basic approach that leverages our current assets and makes smart ' <br /> 7 investments to strengthen our long term economic health. I encourage the county to insert the <br /> 8 EDC's three new proposed line items into the budget that funds this and future year's economic <br /> 9 development efforts. <br /> 10 <br /> 11 Sincerely, <br /> 12 Anita Badrock <br /> 13 Anita Badrock <br /> 14 Former Chair, Economic Development Commission <br /> 15 32 year Orange County resident <br /> 16 <br /> 17 <br /> 18 <br /> 19 Commissioner Yuhasz thanked the EDC for all of the work they put into this report. He <br /> 20 said that he was glad the Manager has recommended funding the small business loan again. <br /> 21 He would like to find funds to apply to recruitment and retention. <br /> 22 Commissioner Pelissier thanked the EDC and the UNC students as well for this report. <br /> 23 She fully endorsed having a work session with the EDC in the near future. She said that the <br /> 24 retail sales issue is something she would like to have more discussion about and this is one <br /> 25 area that they need to flush out more. <br /> 26 Kathleen Ferguson said that the EDC is also very conscious that Alamance County has <br /> 27 put a lot of resources into the retail market and this does impact the overall size of the market <br /> 28 for Orange County. <br /> 29 <br /> 30 PUBLIC COMMENT: <br /> 31 Margaret Cannell, Executive Director of Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of <br /> 32 Commerce, said that they are very interested in economic growth, which has been stagnant for <br /> 33 the past several years. She said that the Chamber of Commerce is in support of the EDC <br /> 34 recommendations. <br /> 35 Bonnie Hauser said that she would love to see the County invest some money in <br /> 36 economic development. She asked if all the EDDs were the same and how Orange County <br /> 37 would differentiate their assets from other community's assets. It is unclear to her how the <br /> 38 UDO clarifies the impediments to permitting in Orange County. She asked about the role of the <br /> 39 County versus the developer and how developers could be attracted before making huge <br /> 40 investments. She asked if there were alternatives for different kinds of investment models. <br /> 41 <br /> 42 Commissioner Gordon thanked the EDC for all of their work and said that she would like <br /> 43 more time to study the information. <br /> 44 Chair Foushee said that the Manager's recommendation is to have a work session on <br /> 45 this item. The Board agreed. <br /> 46 <br /> 47 b. Automatic External Defibrillator(AED) Report <br /> 48 The Board received a report regarding the current status of Automatic External <br /> 49 Defibrillators installed in County facilities and considered recommending the devetopment of a <br /> 50 policy and plan to upgrade current and future installations. <br />