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R <br />Four (4) of these firms (Mystery Brewing, Skram, West End Depot and Phd Productions) are <br />Hillsborough -based companies. The most recent loan recipient, Mystery Brewing located in the <br />Hillsborough Business Center, held its official release party at the Wooden Nickel on February <br />10, 2012 and received broad statewide news coverage on February 9th (WRAL). <br />Since a portion of the recently approved quarter cent sales tax proceeds will go to support <br />further growth in Orange County's Small Business Loan program, there is a good potential for <br />additional Hillsborough firms to be considered as loan candidates in the future. <br />Piedmont Food & Agricultural Processing Center (PFAP) <br />The Piedmont Food & Agricultural Processing Center located in Hillsborough is a collaborative <br />effort between Orange, Alamance, Durham and Chatham counties and shows strong activity <br />since its recent Grand Opening event on October 21, 2011. A summary of PFAP's current <br />status shows the following activity by contracted clients and interested applicants: <br />a) Clients <br />19 clients at present (2 are from Hillsborough) <br />b) Applicants <br />59 accepted applicants (6 are from Hillsborough) <br />32 initial consultations have been conducted <br />26 clients are attending orientations <br />c) New Jobs created in Hillsborough by PFAP <br />Nine new jobs have either been filled, or posted, by current PFAP clients that <br />have already seen their businesses expand locally. <br />Marketing & Business Recruitment Efforts in the Hillsborough Area <br />Orange County Economic Development has created and actively submitted real estate <br />marketing sheets on available Hillsborough properties for a variety of active business prospects <br />that have conducted site visits over the past five months, in addition to routine client visits with <br />investment prospects and site selection consultants. Popular Hillsborough site locations include <br />a 5 -acre parcel at the Meadowlands, a 25,000 square foot building on Elizabeth Brady Road, a <br />9,600 square foot flex space building located at the Meadowlands, and available space at <br />Hillsborough Business Center. On February 7, 2012 staff met with a new agricultural -based <br />prospect that desires to relocate, create nine new jobs, and lease available flex space within the <br />town limits at Meadowlands. <br />In addition, staff has participated with the Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce in various "After <br />Hours" functions for its members, met twice with the Chamber's Economic Development <br />Advisory Board, and included the Chamber in monthly 'partner' meetings which the Economic <br />Development office sponsors to bring together County, chamber and municipal staff who are <br />engaged in economic development throughout Orange County. <br />Staff has also met with Town of Hillsborough Planning Director Margaret Hauth to learn more <br />about the Town's property that could potentially host a train station and have associated retail <br />development. County Economic Development staff plans to increase communication with <br />Hillsborough's front -line economic development staff to find additional ways to help promote the <br />business potential of Hillsborough. Finally, staff is actively visiting with major employers in the <br />Hillsborough area to build relationships and assist in any on -site expansions as they might <br />occur, or, try to help remedy problems they may have with the County or State. <br />