Orange County NC Website
• Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce's "General Member Breakfast" guest speaker <br /> series sponsor in 2015. <br /> • Orange County Agriculture Summit sponsor in 2015 to provide free attendance & meal <br /> for all participants. <br /> Advertising, Publishing & Collateral Materials <br /> Article 46 annual funding: $20,000 or 1.5% of total <br /> Examples of Use: <br /> • Participation in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro Chamber of Commerce's annual PRIMETIME <br /> Business Expo. <br /> • New ad campaign & series of 3 business networking breakfast presentations with the <br /> Town of Chapel Hill, assisted by Chapel Hill Magazine, will begin in early 2016. <br /> • Ad campaign with WCHL 1360 AM radio highlighting activity by Orange County's <br /> Visitors Bureau & Economic Development. <br /> • Subscription to Buxton Company's "Scout" software to support retail retention & <br /> recruitment efforts. <br /> Alderman Chaney said sometimes non-profit organizations apply for Federal grants and <br /> need matching funds. She asked if the Article 46 funds would be appropriate for this. <br /> Steve Brantley said any request through the County would be received and reviewed <br /> according to their criteria for grants. <br /> Steve Brantley said there might be avenues in the agricultural grant process. <br /> Alderman Chaney said one area of need is support for local growers and aggregation. <br /> She asked if there is an update regarding this area in Orange County. <br /> Steve Brantley said that would warrant a follow up report regarding the things that have <br /> been going on behind the scenes. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said it is likely that Orange County will be getting a proposal to <br /> use the Cedar Grove community building as a potential hub for aggregation. He said the <br /> County is moving in the right direction on this issue. <br /> Alderman Chaney asked if there are ways to reduce, and possibly redirect, liquidity, <br /> and if staffs could work together to gain some efficiency in how to use the loan funds. <br /> Alderman Slade expressed appreciation for the update, and for the direction Orange <br /> County is taking. He said he is interested in the proportions of funding from the sales tax. He <br /> said Carrboro represents 14 percent of the County population, but only receives 1 percent of <br /> these funds. He said Carrboro seeks more of these funds to go to locally owned businesses. <br /> Alderman Haven-O'Donnell said she wanted to thank both of the Economic <br /> Development directors for their hard work and dedication. She asked about LaUNCh and if <br /> the interlocal agreement would be renewed at end of the year. <br /> Steve Brantley said it is expected that LaUNCh, the Town of Chapel Hill and the <br /> University of North Carolina (UNC) will make this request before the end of the year. <br /> Alderman Haven-O'Donnell asked if the County's economic development plans include <br /> any options for a design or maker center. She referenced a project at UNC involving 3D <br /> printers making prosthetic hands for children. She said such projects are going on right here in <br /> Orange County that should be encouraged and facilitated. <br /> Alderman Haven-O'Donnell reiterated the importance of focusing local, and that the <br /> County should promote the efforts of local agriculture, in particular. <br /> Chair McKee encouraged both the Town of Carrboro and the County to get the word <br /> out regarding the available agricultural grants. <br />