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Meeting Summary (D <br />Regional Value Added Shared Use Food and Agricultural Processing Center <br />December 17, 2007 <br />Introductions: Fletcher Barber, Willie Best, Gerry Cohn, Eddie Culberson, Sam Groce, Barry Jacobs, <br />Mike Lanier, Bill Lelekacs, Judy Lessler, Kelly May, Nekeidra Morrision, Noah Ranells, Dianne Reid, <br />& Glenn Woolard <br />The purpose of this meeting was to review the feasibility report and specifically consider the 13 steps <br />proposed towards the creation of the value added shared use food and agricultural processing center. <br />General Comments on the Report <br />1. Very thorough and comprehensive feasibility report. <br />2. Discussion on the meat value added processing to be considered after initial startup; <br />Chatham meat processor expanding -will this effort be in sync with that effort? <br />Consideration that meat storage capacity was included in the proposed design; Other meat value <br />added projects are seeking grant funds; <br />Presentations of the feasibility report <br />November 27, 2007 Commissioners Heron, Ingle, Jacobs, and Vanderbeck and staff met with <br />consultant <br />December 7, 2007 Durham Farmland Advisory Board <br />December 11, 2007 Orange County Board of Commissioners <br />At the November 27th meeting, it was agreed that the respective commissions would be presented <br />with this project during the next month and an indication of their interest in continuing as partner <br />counties would be formalized by resolution by February 15, 2008. <br />In addition, it was agreed that the respective county ag advisory boards consider the report and provide <br />feedback to their respective commissions. Finally, it was requested that the Advisory Group meet to discuss <br />the report and provide feedback. <br />A grant proposal was submitted to the NC Agricultural Development and Farmland Protection Trust Fund on <br />December 14, 2007 for $141,000 to begin renovation of the proposed facility. <br />A motion was made by Kelly May and seconded by Judy Lessler: The Advisory Group endorses the <br />feasibility study and urges the respective partner county commissions to take the necessary steps to move <br />this project forward. <br />A motion was made by Judy Lessler and seconded by Diane Reid: The Advisory Group requests that <br />Orange County act as fiscal agent for the project until anon-profit management entity is developed. <br />The 13-step process outlined in the feasibility report was reviewed and milestone dates were proposed and <br />presented on the following page <br />The American Farmland Trust SE director attended the meeting but voluntarily left the room to allow open <br />discussion regarding the project developer discussion. It was agreed that a formal scope of work be <br />developed for the project manager to include 1) Application for and Implementation of grant funds, 2) <br />development of non-profit management entity, and 3) supervision of renovation and equipment acquisition. In <br />addition, it was requested that the project manager submit a proposed fee and percent FTE dedicated to this <br />project prior to a contract being signed. The feasibility report suggested a 10% fee for the project developer, <br />an estimated $75,000 based on $400,000 for renovation and $350,000 for initial equipment. <br />The Advisory Group will meet next in late February 2008 <br />