Minutes - 20070212 - Laserfiche WebLink

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• Host presentations from economic developers from neighboring counties, towns within Orange County (High priority -Invite development staff to talk about their initiatives and priorities at regular EDC meetings throughout the year} • Seek greater participation from Chapel Hill and Carrboro elected boards {High priority -Hillsborough has an elected official serving as a member; the Board Chair will seek similar commitment from other towns} • Include EDC members in planning for Business Expo, particularly in obtaining sponsorships (High priority -Board Secretary will take lead in securing additional financial support from area businesses) • Hold periodic field trips/tours to acquaint members with unfamiliar areas of the county (Medium priority -Because of work involved, probably hold only one trip per year} • Conduct county tour with UNClelected officials {Lowest priority -Very labor intensive, only undertake if time permits) EDC Staff Goals: To position EDC staff as leaders in Investing in lnnovatiort Current Year Objectives: • Reestablish and operate Small Business Loan Program (Highest priority as discussed above in Marketing section} • Continue to alter the State of the Local Economy report and presentation to reflect pressing community issues (High priority -last year, elected officials presented information on projects within their jurisdiction; this year, the BOCC chair and educators WIII discuss future development challenges and the preparation of tomorrows' labor force) • Send Director's Economic Development Report to the EDC board in advance of meetings and make sure BOCC receives all reports {High priority -Start immediately) • Develop online and printed "how-to" guide for businesses {High priority - Complete guide by Fall 2007) • Continue move towards predevelopment facilitation/central permitting (High priority as discussed above in Business Climate goal} • Overhaul website {High priority -Most searches for where to locate businesses begin with the web; in order to be competitive, the EDC must upgrade its current web presence; this effort may require an outside consultant) • Plan for move to new county campus (High priority -Work with other departments to ensure efficient space design for land services agencies; move anticipated in Summer 2008; probable budget implications far FY 2008-09) • Work with NCSU and other county agencies to develop plan for Breeze Farm (High priority -The county and NC State University are jointly preparing a plan for the Breeze Farm property; concept plans will be presented to the BOCC at February 12 work session) • Add Eat Local section, farmer pages, and farm land available to Orange County Farms website (High priority - as with the EDC Web site, www.orangecountyfarms.org needs work; the new sections will be added by Fall 2008) • Purchase new GIS workstation/connect to Permits Plus (High priority - In order to have access to all the layers now available through the county's land records system, EDC needs a new computer; propose to purchase system with earned income}