Agenda - 06-03-2008-5b5e - Laserfiche WebLink

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c Worl~force Developanent This area focuses on a multitude of important steps for both the County and the business community to take in order to adequately support and train both Orange County residents and those who work in Orange County, but live elsewhere. The ones most pertinent to the proposed development during its initial phases have been highlighted below. There will be additional opportunities to work with businesses, that locate in this project once they have been identified and confirmed as tenants in the project. 1) Promote access to living wage jobs that offer benefits and career advancement the Buckhorn Village project is a real estate development project which will house future businesses as yet unidentified. During the construction phase, many of the jobs provided by the project will be skilled trade. Many of the initial tenants will be retail and hospitality sector tenants. The majority of available jobs are unlikely to meet the living wage threshold for Orange County if current market conditions are predictive. The tenants of this development will primarily provide entry-level workforce employment and flexible, part time employment options. The development of Buckhorn Village will likely spur additional development in this Economic Development District in other industry sectors which may provide higher paying employment. 2) Provide housing for workforce close to jobs and transportation-Buckhorn Village will provide residential units within the project. There is existing residential development near the project. ~, 3) 75% of new jobs filled by county residents-this is difficult to predict at this phase of development. The typical tenant will not need to relocate a workforce and the types of jobs offered generally draw their employee pool from close proximity to the.worlcsite. Quality of Place This area encourages partnerships among the various community members and stakeholders to create a quality of place that attracts and retains the creative .community. 1) Promote public space, art and parks in approval of large development projects-- Buckhorri Village will have an open space plan and encourage local events in these spaces. 2) Target incentives to businesses that enhance the quality of place---the BOCC might use the revolving loan fund to this purpose. High end retail and hospitality in the project might provide unique outlets for artists and other creative products. 3) Enhance rural character by supporting farmers markets in multiple locations- again, the public space planned for this project might be used for this purpose. 4) Attract and retain a creative community of innovators, artists, and civic leaders- unlikely to be a core objective or outcome of this particular project, but the tax revenue from Buckhorn Village can be used to support organizations that contribute to the quality of place in Orange County.