Agenda - 02-12-2008-2 - Laserfiche WebLink

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A desired site should also have ample space for offices, break rooms, and meeting rooms. Acquiring a building with existing offices will help reduce renovation costs. Proximity to Users and Ease of Access Results of the community survey indicate the average distance potential users are willing to drive is just over 34 miles. A site located in the four-county area should take into account the greatest demands of use from specific counties and communities. The survey results show a large concentration of potential users near the interstate corridor between Hillsborough in Orange County and Graham in Alamance County. While serious food entrepreneurs are not likely to be intimidated by longer commutes, new startups and farmers will be more likely to use a facility that is within a half hour or so of their homes or primary places of business. Optimal sites should have easy road access for commercial trucks and other vehicles. Much of the equipment installed will be delivered by truck, and either a loading dock or on site use of a forklift are essential. Proximity to Service Providers A key determinant of this project's success may be the degree to which existing business and agricultural service providers assist clients and project managers in delivering a full . range of business development services. Extension personnel, culinary trainers, small business center directors, and others will be able to play a meaningful role in the project if they can access the facility with minimal travel. One inherent advantage this project enjoys is relatively close proximity to Raleigh, the state capital and headquarters for many state service agencies including NC State University, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, and the North Carolina Department of Commerce. LTNC-Chapel Hill, located in Orange County, may also be a source for important business development assistance from the Kenan- Flagler School of Business. F II. Review of Potential Sites The researcher spent several days in the four-county region investigating the availability of potential sites that meet most or all of the criteria discussed above. Visits were made to all four counties but focused largely on the area with highest measured community demand, in northern Orange County and eastern Alamance County. A brief discussion of other locations is first presented below. Chatham County Chatham County enjoys a strong presence of small farms, established nonprofit development agencies (RAFI-USA and Carolina Farm Stewardship Association), and Eastern Carolina Organics, the largest organic produce cooperative in the state. The community is largely rural, but is also somewhat divided between the more urban northern and eastern side, centered on Pittsboro, and the western side near Siler City. A lack of sufficient water supplies and other infrastructure needs, as well as the county's 38