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Economic Development Mission <br /> Our purpose is to make Orange County a smart, innovative place — a great place in which to <br /> live, learn, work, & play. We encourage public-private investments to provide jobs for county <br /> residents and to increase the non-residential tax base. Through these investments, we <br /> enhance the financial well-being and quality of life of county residents, and the ability of their <br /> local governments to provide high-quality services. What follows are value-added initiatives <br /> we plan to undertake throughout the coming year. <br /> The proposed implementation steps include: <br /> I. Develop functional qroups to quide county-wide economic development strateqy <br /> Phase One: Form a "Working Group" Board of Advisors consisting of our county-wide <br /> ED partners to create sustained collaboration among the following "partners": <br /> a) Chapel Hill ED/Town Manager/Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber <br /> b) Carrboro ED/Town Manager/ Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber <br /> c) Hillsborough Town Manager/Hillsborough Chamber <br /> d) Mebane Town Manager <br /> e) Orange County Manager/OCED <br /> f) UNC-Economic Development/Kenan Center for Private Enterprise <br /> g) Durham Technical & Community College-Orange County Campus <br /> Phase Two: Evolve a "private sector" ED Board that provides clear guidance relative <br /> to creating additional corporate investments in new and expanded "21St century <br /> industry" in Orange County, seek their advice on more cluster-based technologies, <br /> determine through their counsel a sound incentive policy that makes sense for new and <br /> expanded business locations and receive their guidance relative to the innovation <br /> community. <br /> II. Develop collaborative Economic Development course of action that makes best <br /> use of our assets and allows Oranqe County to be a competitive participant in <br /> reqional, national and international opportunities <br /> Establish ED policy that focuses on collaboration going forward, whereby all voices can <br /> be heard. Assist in creating ED "wins" for our partner towns, inclusive of new business <br /> locations such as; ITC, Data, Life Sciences, Social Media; expansions of existing <br /> businesses; creating economic wealth through innovation and entrepreneurship; ag- <br /> based initiatives/innovations and; travel & tourism. <br /> III. Continue to develop key partnerships <br /> Continue to engage directly with the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the <br /> Research Triangle Regional Partnership in presenting a "credible" economic <br /> development story to respective staff and developers and responding to all inquiries <br /> with professionally-developed materials. <br /> IV. Expand opportunities to develop relationships with potential clients <br /> Participate more fully with "industry-specific" trade shows that focus on life sciences, <br /> ITC, software, data/cloud computing and green-based technologies. <br />