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to provide the same types of education to sustain the small businesses. She also askec <br />about the status of the small business loan program. <br />Dianne Reid said that in Orange County there are about 12,000 businesses, and <br />9,500 have no employees; they are sole proprietors. Of the remaining 2,500 <br />businesses, 59°~ have 1-4 employees; and another 19°lo have 5-9 employees. This is <br />75°1° of the businesses that have ten or fewer employees. Orange County is definitely a <br />very small business community. She said that they are more interested in retention <br />rather than expansion. The real focus is making sure that existing businesses can stay <br />here and expand. She said that facilitation needs to be a focus for small businesses. <br />Regarding the loan program, they will be bringing a proposal to revise this program to <br />the Board of County Commissioners in October. It will be a smaller fund and the funds <br />will be targeted to the very small enterprises. <br />Commissioner Foushee said that there is a perception that there is not any <br />assistance for small businesses and it might help to know which businesses are not <br />sustained annually. She said that she is hearing that Orange County is not small <br />business friendly and that some of the smaller businesses are not able to sustain <br />themselves. <br />Dianne Reid said that the key to making this plan work is partnerships and she <br />feels that helping someone see that their business idea might not work and not losing <br />their money is a positive thing. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that they need to continue working an looking at <br />issues facing small start-up businesses. He has had calls from people that have been <br />frustrated with the process of starting up a new business. <br />Commissioner Gordon asked about the $45 million in commercial development <br />and Dianne Reid said that it was everything that was commercial -new buildings at <br />Meadowmont, new buildings at Southern Village, two hotels, and additions and <br />renovations. <br />6. Changes in BOCC Regular Meeting Schedule <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner <br />Gordon to approve the following changes in the BOCC Meeting Schedule: <br />Ta add three meetings to consider the qualifications of candidates far the County <br />Manager position. These meetings are likely to be closed session- only meetings: <br />^ Wednesday, September 20, 2006 at 10:OOam at the Southern Human Services <br />Center, Room D, in Chapel Hill, N.C.; and <br />^ Thursday, September 21, 2006 at 10:OOam at the Southern Human Services <br />Center, Room D, in Chapel Hill, N.C.; and <br />^ Friday, September 22, 2006 at 8:30 am at the Government Services Center, in <br />Hillsborough, N.C. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner <br />Halkiotis to adjourn the meeting at 10:10 p.m. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />Barry Jacobs, Chair <br />Donna S. Baker <br />