Agenda - 06-03-2008-5b5a - Laserfiche WebLink

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21 1 that grew out of meetings with progressive community groups and leaders during the Chamber '2 of Commerce's trip to Madison, WI in the fall of 2006. We have remained active since then in 3 an effort to find better ways to implement the concept of economic sustainability at the local. 4 level. 5 6 Our research and activities have convinced us that the key to a thriving and sustainable local 7 economy is to fiocus economic development efforts on supporting local business, 8 entrepreneurship, and a culture of "think local first." 9 10 This idea was recently captured by Senate candidate Jim Neal. Neal wrote about the 11 importance "...of creating not just jobs, but careers. Not just jobs, but jobs that pay good 12 wages. Not just jobs, but jobs that add value. In short, quality, sustairable jobs that are 13 grounded in entrepreneurship. North Carolina's future depends on building and enabling 14 `homegrown wealth': businesses formed by entrepreneurs in the State which create both lasting 15 economic wealth and employment opportunities." 16 17 What's true for the state is just as true for Orange County. In last week's issue of Newsweek, 18Daniel Gross reported on the extreme glut in retail space across the country. Numerous chains 19 and big-box retailers are closing hundreds of storefronts -with all the associated effects on 20 local employment. Even if this development is able to bring in large retailers from outside, the 21 jobs created are likely to be low-wage and ephemeral. Hardly a recipe for sustainability. 22 23 If that is the case, then the proposed development for the Buckhorn Road site is 180 in the 24 wrong direction. Here in Orange County, we are used to seeing our local governments lead, not 25 follow. We urge the County to insist on a project that is worthy of the future, not a blast from the 26 past. A mixed-use, transit-friendly development instead of just another strip mall. A home to 27 locally-based entrepreneurs and forward-thinkirig residents and business owners, not to 28 exploitative outside retailers. A project that makes a statement about where Orange County's 29 priorities lie, and resists the temptation to follow the retail gold which is, as James Carnahan 30 recently pointed out in the Chapel Hill News, more often than not, fool's Gold. 31 32 Last time I looked, the unemployment rate for Orange County was well below the state and 33 national average. This would seem to indicate that the issue to address regarding jobs in 34 Orange County is quality, not quantity. So, if this development does proceed, we propose the 35 following stipulations be attached to it: 36 1. That the county requires a commitment to bring in tenants who pay living wages and 37 whose employees will not create a burden for county services because of inadequate 3 g employee pay and/or benefits. 39 2. That the county include a `local first' mandate stipulating a specific and aggressive 40 level of local tenancy and ownership. 41 3. That the county establishes and provides incentives for local entrepreneurs to 42 encourage the rise of locally-owned businesses, for exmple in the form of a revolving 43 loan fund. 44 4. That the county seek, to the extent feasible, to have the development adhere to 45 Orange County's new Comprehensive Plan, or, failing that, to adhere to specific 46 principles of sustainability as agreed on in the near term by the county's boards and 47 commissions. 48 49 A project that does nothing but add to our environmental burden, increase traffic, and create 50 low-wage jobs, all in the name of sales tax revenues that evaporate in additional public service 51 costs, is not worth having in Orange County. If this project is just to be Orange County's version ~`