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Economic Development Director Dianne Reid introduced members of her board and <br />people that have worked on the strategic plan: Margaret Connell, Co-Chair of the Business <br />Climate Work Group; Keith Cook, Co-Chair of Infrastructure Work Group; John Delconte, Co- <br />Chair of Quality of Place Work Group; Teresa Derrick and Bob Ward, Co-Chairs of Workforce <br />Development; Anita Badrock, EDC board member; Jason Jolley, Economic Development <br />Specialist; and Susan Lombardo, Vice-Chair of EDC. <br />Susan Lombardo said that in 2004, the EDC presented the preliminary strategic plan to <br />add 5,000 new private sector jobs and $125 million in new commercial property. The plan was <br />developed at the Economic Development Summit in January 2004. Based on the work done in <br />the small groups, four key areas were spawned: <br />- Business climate <br />- Infrastructure <br />- Workforce Development <br />- Quality of Place <br />The Board's reaction was favorable at the time, but the EDC was encouraged to get <br />some input from other elected boards and organizations. The Town of Carrboro, the Chapel <br />Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce, and the Hillsborough-Orange County Chamber of <br />Commerce have formally endorsed the strategic plan. The EDC presented the plan to the Town <br />of Hillsborough in April and the general response was positive. The EDC will present it to the <br />Town of Chapel Hill on June 15t". They asked that the Board approve the resolution. <br />Commissioner Jacobs commended the group. He suggested that this be presented in <br />either written or in presentation form to the two school boards, because they are very worried <br />about the tax revenues that they will receive. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Gordon to <br />approve the attached Resolution Supporting the Orange County Economic Development <br />Commissioner's Five-Year Strategic Plan Entitled, Investing in Innovation. <br />A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE ORANGE COUNTY <br />ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION'S FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN <br />ENTITLED INVESTING IN INNOVATION <br />WHEREAS, the Orange County Economic Development Commission's Five-Year Strategic <br />Plan entitled Investing in Innovation seeks to create 5,000 new private sector jobs and add <br />$125,000,000 in new commercial property by June 2009; and <br />WHEREAS, the Strategic Plan outlines specific and attainable goals in four work group areas <br />Business Climate, Infrastructure, Work Force Development, and Quality of Life; and <br />WHEREAS, the Strategic Plan was developed via 28 work group meetings and over 1,400 <br />volunteer hours; and <br />WHEREAS, support has been sought for the Strategic Plan through presentations to local <br />governments, civic organizations, and business organizations; and <br />WHEREAS, the Economic Development Commission Board Members and Director presented <br />the Strategic Plan to the Carrboro Board of Aldermen, the Government Relations Committee of <br />the Chapel Hill/Carrboro Chamber of Commerce, the Government Affairs Committee of the <br />HillsboroughlOrange County Chamber of Commerce, the membership of the <br />Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce, the Hillsborough Town Board, and other <br />civic organizations and received comments and suggestions on the report; and <br />