Agenda - 06-18-2013 - 5a - Laserfiche WebLink

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8 1 2 • Economic Development Advisory Board (EDAB) Donald Bryan, Chair (with 3 Economic Development Director Steve Brantley) 4 5 Steve Brantley thanked the Board of County Commissioners for re-constituting this 6 advisory board and he listed the member representatives. He said the board has met 5 times 7 so far and moves around to different locations. 8 Donald (D.R.) Bryan said this is a new board and one of the things that has been done 9 is to look at the county and determine issues and areas of concern. He identified the following 10 three issues: 11 • Need to diversify the tax base 12 • More sales tax dollars need to stay in the county 13 • Need for job creation 14 15 He said, regarding economic development districts along 85, the question is whether 16 anything can be done to attract manufacturing facilities or retail, to increase job creation. 17 He said the board is trying to support the existing sections of the economy - agriculture, 18 arts and tourism. 19 He said one issue is figuring out how to work with UNC and UNC Hospitals to make sure 20 that, as jobs come out of those institutions, those jobs stay in Orange County. 21 Commissioner Rich asked if there are any women on the committee and several people 22 answered, saying there are about 4-5. 23 Frank Clifton said there is one vacancy on this board in the manufacturing sector and 24 the board will be bringing forth prospective applicants in the coming months. 25 Commissioner McKee asked the board to give the Board of County Commissioners their 26 perception on how to keep the County moving forward, economically. He expressed his 27 appreciation for the contribution and efforts of the board. 28 Commissioner Pelissier asked, if the board would be reviewing some of the rules and 29 regulations regarding streamlining the permitting process for economic development. 30 Donald Bryan said this had not been discussed but that it can be done if the Board of 31 County Commissioners would like to see this happen. 32 Frank Clifton said there are several elements here, including the perception of anti- 33 business. He said there was an analysis of economic development in Orange County, done by 34 graduate and law students at UNC, and this will be shared with the board members. 35 Commissioner Rich asked if there was a strategic plan for retaining the graduates 36 coming out of UNC and other local colleges and keeping incubators in Orange County. 37 Steve Brantley said there had been a meeting this past week regarding UNC holding 38 classes at Durham Tech to create opportunities for people to leverage assets with the university 39 and then carry that into existing businesses. He said the Town of Chapel Hill is amenable to 40 this partnership. 41 Chair Jacobs said, regarding streamlining permitting process, one chronic problem is 42 coordinating planning and economic development. He said people need to be directed to take 43 new ideas to the economic development side to get guidance through the system, before being 44 told no by the regulatory side. 45 Chair Jacobs said that there is a focus on the economic development districts and he 46 hopes the board does not lose track of the Efland Corridor and the Highway 57 Small Area 47 Plan. He said these are an important component in the effort for development. 48 Steve Brantley said yesterday an existing building in Efland was shown. 49 Chair Jacobs said the Cornelius Street Corridor is another area and has good 50 infrastructure in place.