Agenda - 12-15-2015 - 6a - Minutes

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11 1 This proposal outlines a new 3-year economic development relationship where the 2 County and Town continue backing the existing "Launch Chapel Hill" innovation center located 3 at 321 West Rosemary Street in Chapel Hill. The County's total financial commitment to be paid 4 from Article 46's entrepreneurial development category is $120,000 over the next 3 years. 5 The draft Interlocal Agreement (see attachment 2) was prepared by the County Attorney and is 6 similar to the small business incubator's original 2012 Interlocal Agreement. The new document 7 has also been reviewed by the Town's Attorney and will be presented to the Chapel Hill Town 8 Council for review on November 17, 2015. 9 Steve Brantley said the proposed new Interlocal Agreement requires Orange County to 10 contribute $10,000 per quarter for three years, or, a total of$120,000 from January 1, 2016 11 through December 31, 2018. This is the same level of funding support, per quarter, as 12 approved in the current Interlocal Agreement with Chapel Hill. County funding is provided by 13 Article 46 proceeds and not from the General Fund. 14 15 PUBLIC COMMENT: 16 Meg McGuirk is the Executive Director of the Downtown Partnership, which is the fiscal 17 agent for Launch, as well as the holder of the sublease of the property. She urged the Board to 18 continue to support this project financially and spiritually. She said in the three years since its 19 inception, 49 start-ups have come through Launch. She said this commitment to start-ups has 20 put the County on the global map for small businesses and their growth. 21 Dina Rousset thanked the Board of County Commissioners for its continued support of 22 Launch, of which she is the Director. She said this project has brought together Orange 23 County, the Town of Chapel Hill, the University of North Carolina (UNC), and a private donor; 24 and as a result, this area is becoming known for start-ups. 25 Commissioner Jacobs asked if the number of start-ups remaining in Orange County is 26 known. 27 Dina Rousset said this information is surveyed at the end of the calendar year, noting 28 that at the end of 2014 about 75 percent remained locally. 29 Commissioner Jacobs asked if staff would help in the survey process, to gather why 25 30 percent of businesses are leaving. 31 Dina Rousset said they would welcome that assistance going forward. She said one of 32 the main issues is affordability. She said the Economic Development Department is helping in 33 this area. 34 Commissioner Rich expressed her thanks for the hard work and for the staff being so 35 positive with Launch. She said it shows how partnerships can work. 36 Commissioner Pelissier said given the interest with the living wage issue, she would like 37 to see Launch encouraging the start-ups to pay a living wage. 38 Commissioner Burroughs said when there is updated data to please share it with the 39 Board. 40 Chair McKee asked if Launch is becoming space constrained. 41 Dina Rousset said space has been an issue for some time. She said there are currently 42 18 companies that share many spaces and a larger space will continue to be sought. 43 Chair McKee asked if larger facilities would allow for larger and more start-ups to begin. 44 Dina Rousset said yes. 45 46 A motion was made by Commissioner Pelissier, seconded by Commissioner Price to 47 approve a new Interlocal Agreement between the County and Town of Chapel Hill that extends 48 the County's Article 46 funding support for entrepreneurial development to continue supporting 49 the existing "Launch Chapel Hill" innovation center located at 321 West Rosemary Street in 50 Chapel Hill, and authorize the Manager to sign.