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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: December 11, 2007 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. ,3 <br />SUBJECT: Final Feasibility Study Report for the Regional Value-Added Shared Use Food <br />Processing Center <br />DEPARTMENT: Economic Development PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): (Under Separate Cover) INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Feasibility Study Report Noah Ranells 245-2330 <br />Willie Best 245-2300 <br />PURPOSE: To present the final feasibility study report for the Regional Value Added Shared <br />Use Processing Center. <br />BACKGROUND: During the past few years, the local and regional farming community has <br />evolved to meet local market opportunities. The tremendous increase in consumer interest in <br />locally grown, healthy, nutritious, and fresh farm products has supported an increase in farmers <br />selling at farmers' markets, direct to consumers, from farm stands, and through local co-ops and <br />conventional grocers. In addition, there is strong interest from local school districts, universities, <br />and hospitals to obtain locally grown or raised farm products. <br />An oft-cited limitation to marketing local farm products is the lack of processing facilities. In <br />2005, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners appointed interested citizens and <br />farmers to a working group that examined, among other concerns, the need and justification for <br />a value-added, shared use processing facility. The report submitted by the Agricultural Center <br />Work Group, presented to the Commissioners on May 25, 2006, contained a recommendation <br />that the Board move to conduct a feasibility study for avalue-added, shared-use processing <br />facility. <br />In October of 2006, the BOCC Chair Jacobs sent a letter to neighboring counties (Alamance, <br />Caswell, Chatham, Durham, & Person) and to local grocers (Weaver Street Market, & Whole <br />Foods) offering the opportunity to partner with Orange County to conduct the feasibility study. <br />County staff were invited to make presentations at neighboring various agricultural boards and <br />county commissioner meetings. As a result, a strong partnership effort was created among <br />Alamance, Chatham, Durham, & Orange counties, along with support from Weaver Street <br />Market and Whole Foods to fund the $15,000 feasibility study. <br />On April 24, 2007, the BOCC authorized staff to negotiate a contract with Smithson Mills, Inc., to <br />commission a Feasibility Study for a Regional Value Added Shared Use Processing Center and <br />