Orange County NC Website
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Some citizens and employers have negative attitudes about and low expectations for Work <br />First recipients. <br />Vision and Mission Statements <br />The following are adapted from the Orange County Human Services Advisory Commission <br />vision statement which was adopted by the Board of Commissioners in December, 1991. <br />VISION: Based on our community values of caring, respect, diversity, economic opportunity, <br />the enhancement of self -worth and optimal health and safety, citizens of Orange County should <br />contribute to and participate in the well -being of the community to the extent we are able. <br />MISSION: Orange County will use a coordinated, efficient, and effective network of resources <br />that will provide a continuum of preventive and corrective services appropriate to promote <br />economic, emotional, physical, and social well -being for all citizens. <br />B. Economic Development. <br />Orange County's overall ranking for economic development rose to 4th best in the state for the <br />1995 -96 fiscal year. Among the 100 counties in North Carolina over the past ten years, Orange <br />County's rank is 9th.Over 100 new businesses .were established in commercial locations in <br />Orange Counties during fiscal year 1996 -97. In addition, hundreds of in -home businesses - <br />everything from high -tech software companies to household errand services - began operation <br />throughout the County. Persons seeking information about starting a new business in Orange <br />County came from 29 different states and 3 foreign countries. <br />Retail sales increased by 7.4% for this year. This figure represents an increase over the prior <br />year but is still only half the average for the whole state. <br />In 1994, the county's tax base was $4,517,119,446; in 1997 it is 5,151,871,960. The county's tax <br />base is currently 86% residential and 14% non - residential. <br />Since 1990, shifts in private sector employment shows an increase in jobs in eating and drinking <br />establishments and health services and a decline in engineering and management and general <br />merchandise stores. Although the county's 1997 unemployment rate of 1.7% is a 20 year low <br />for the county and one of the lowest in the state, the lack of moderate income jobs for unskilled <br />and semi - skilled workers is a serious problem. <br />The recently released study by NC Equity establishes self - sufficiency standard for each county in <br />the state. For a single Orange County full -time worker with two children (one infant and one <br />preschooler) the self - sufficiency standard is $618.17 per week. For a single full -time worker <br />with one preschool child, the self - sufficiency standard is $465.14 per week. For two full -time <br />workers with two children (one infant and one preschooler), the self - sufficiency standard is <br />$352.62 per week each. <br />12 <br />13 <br />