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11 <br /> Lydia Wegman said the Commission has excellent support from staff. She reviewed <br /> the following information: <br /> Highlights/Accomplishments <br /> o Initiated a series of articles on environmental issues featured in SOE report (2015) <br /> Recommendations: <br /> o The CFE will continue to advocate for an expansion of the County's commercial food <br /> waste pickup and composting services to reduce food waste in the solid waste stream <br /> o The CFE remains interested in developing incentives for increasing energy efficiency in <br /> new construction <br /> o The CFE will continue to learn more about environmental justice matters and <br /> incorporate relevant information and considerations in the State of the Environment <br /> report and its other activities <br /> o The CFE will continue to follow the Solid Waste Advisory Group's discussions of how to <br /> improve the handling and disposal of Orange County's solid waste, and will advocate <br /> for better long-term solutions <br /> o The CFE will continue to advocate for increased efforts to gather information related to <br /> water resources in Orange County and to increase public awareness and <br /> understanding of water supply sources, related concerns, and what steps can be <br /> undertaken to maintain or improve the quantity and quality of Orange County water <br /> supply resources <br /> o The CFE will continue to address, as appropriate, the critical environmental issues for <br /> Orange County as enumerated on page 3 of the 2014 State of the Environment report, <br /> which include potential adverse effects from a) invasive, non-native, plant and animal <br /> species; b) reductions in State-led collection of water resources data; c) potential <br /> drilling for natural gas in the Deep River basin; d) urban sprawl; and CFE support for e) <br /> the responsible deployment of clean and appropriately-sited renewable energy and <br /> reductions in energy use to help fight climate change <br /> Commissioner Dorosin said he appreciated that environmental justice has been folded <br /> into the CFE plan. <br /> • Economic Development Advisory Board: Donald (D.R.) Bryan, Chair <br /> D.R. Bryan said in 2015, the Advisory Board received 50 small business applications <br /> and approved 28 awards, totaling $183,338.00 for the Small Business Investment Grant <br /> program. He said in addition, the Agriculture Economic Development Grant program received <br /> 24 applications and approved 20 awards, totaling $157,178.49. <br /> D.R. Bryan said in 2016, staff asked the Board to consider how Orange County should <br /> be branded for Economic Development. He said the Board is considering a SWOT (strengths, <br /> weaknesses, opportunities and threats) approach to assess and brand Orange County. <br /> He said the Board also plans to look more closely at the Economic Development District <br /> (EDDs), and the characteristics of each one. He said the EDDs were created 25 years ago. <br />