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Ag Center Work Group Recommendation 3 Immediate-term Feasibility Studies - Value-added, shared-use processing facility for local farm products far local markets - Farm business incubator Ag Center Work Group County Commitment to Agriculture Given the unsuccessful effort of the late 1980's and 1990's related to an ag center in Orange County, it is critically important for the BOCC to accelerate the implementation of these recommendations. Chair Jacobs said that he very much appreciates the work and the vision of this group. He said that what struck him in talking about the changes in agriculture in Orange County is that there is no recognition in how much these County Commissioners have tried to do for agriculture. He said that the report does not mention that Orange County has perhaps the only Ag Economic Development Specialist, that it has had eight Ag Summits to try and bring information and ideas to farmers in Orange County, that they have tried to strengthen and rename the Ag Preservation Board, and that it secured money and gave land and are trying to design a farmer's market in Hillsborough. There are other things that they have been working on to expand the definition of ag services sa that farmers can da mare on their property related to agriculture with minimized red tape. They have also talked to other counties about working together on a value added center and have made applications far money for a value added center. He said that he would hope that, as they go forward with this report, that there is some recognition that these County Commissioners have worked on these issues. Commissioner Halkiotis thanked Betty Tom Davidson and all of the non- traditional agriculturists. He said that this is a good report and he agrees with Chair Jacobs that it needs to include the Board of County Commissioners' support far agriculture. He suggested looking at the old document from 18 years ago that is in the packet and looking at piggy backing with a fire and rescue training center, or firing range for law enforcement. He is fully supportive of the report. Chair Jacobs said that they did ask legislators far money for the feasibility study and for the value added center in this fiscal year. They have not heard anything yet. Tony Kleese acknowledged the Board of County Commissioners' support but he said that the approach needs to be very coordinated and synchronized and needs to come from some long-term goals. He said that the change is that the farmers and the consumers are ready to come to the table together. 2. Carolina North .(Horace Williams property) Leadership Advisory Committee This item is to provide an update on the UNC at Carolina North (Horace Williams property} development project and collectively provide County comments to the Leadership Advisory Committee about County interest and topic areas.