Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
COUNTY Staff: Steve Brantley; TOWN Staff: Shannan Campbell <br /> Steve Brantley, Orange County Economic Development Director, said Orange County <br /> and Hillsborough were both involved in the various topics listed below. He said much of this <br /> activity involved Article 46 taxes. He reviewed the following information: <br /> County/Town Updates (Strategies; Collaboration; Concerns; Questions) <br /> Throughout 2015, Orange County and the Town of Hillsborough have benefited from a number <br /> of successful economic development initiatives which supported the growth and retention of <br /> area small businesses, the promotion of agriculture, arts & tourism, an increase in business <br /> recruitment & investment prospect activity, and greater mutual collaboration between the <br /> County's & Town's economic development partners in government and the Chamber of <br /> Commerce. A significant portion of this effort has been funded from the 2011 referendum that <br /> created the 1/4 cent sales tax proceeds to benefit economic development and education, called <br /> "Article 46" funding. Examples are as follows: <br /> Financial Assistance Provided to Small Businesses in Hillsborough <br /> Since the creation of the Orange County Small Business Loan Program several years ago, up <br /> until the current period, Hillsborough small businesses have received approximately $500,000 <br /> in total loans to retain and support their growth. This lending activity within the Town <br /> represents almost 80% of all loans approved Countywide for small business borrowers. Recent <br /> loan activity includes the following Hillsborough firms: <br /> o MasterPeace Barber Shop - home-based barber shop <br /> o Accidental Baker - gourmet cracker food processing <br /> o Beau Catering - upscale special events catering <br /> o Bacon Meat Market - deli & fresh local meat market (opening soon) <br /> o Seal The Season — Piedmont Food & Agricultural Processing Center <br /> o tenant (frozen blueberries & vegetables) <br /> o Mystery Brewery & Tap Room - microbrewery & retail store <br /> • The Article 46-funded Orange County Small Business Investment Grant Program <br /> began to make operational business grants of up to $10,000 per applicant in 2015. <br /> County-wide, the new grant program awarded $245,840 to 39 total growing firms. Of <br /> this amount, a total of nine (9) Hillsborough small businesses received $65,352 in total <br /> grant support, which was 26.5% of all small business grants made last year. Those <br /> firms are as follows: <br /> o 360 Degree Health - health care provider <br /> o Kyookz - food processing <br /> o Music Maker Relief Foundation - nonprofit <br /> o Q Garden - retail store <br /> o MasterPeace Barber Shop - home-based barber shop <br /> o Regulator Brewing Company - microbrewery <br /> o Seal The Season - Piedmont Food & Agricultural Processing Center <br /> o tenant (frozen blueberries & vegetables) <br /> o Accidental Baker - gourmet cracker food processing <br /> o Beau Catering - upscale special events catering <br /> • Also in 2015, the Orange County Agriculture Economic Development Grant Program <br /> provided a total of 20 awards exceeding $157,178 for area farms and related <br />