Minutes 02-25-2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

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agricultural food systems businesses. Approximately eight (8) of those recipients have a Hillsborough mailing address and received 60% of all agricultural grants County-wide. Business Recruitment Activity • In 2015 the Orange County Economic Development office received over 65 separate requests (by the State of North Carolina's Economic Development Partnership agency, Duke Energy, commercial developers, brokers, etc.) seeking information on available sites and buildings in the County. This activity is a 2x increase over 2014, a 3x increase over 2013, and a 4x increase over 2012. • For 2015 and into 2016 thus far, Hillsborough was represented with twenty one (21) separate "green field" site data submissions to inquirers, and regular site locations provided by the County included Waterstone (tracts 8 & 9), Oakdale Village, Tryon Business Center at Meadowmont, N.C. 57 & N.C. 86 site, 2701 Old N.C. 86, Cardinal Drive (located behind Holiday Inn Express), Owls Wood (N.C. 86 & U.S. 70 intersection), and sites adjacent to 1-40 & Old N.C. 86 south. • Over the same 13 month period, information on available buildings in Hillsborough were submitted to investment prospects eighteen (18) times. Those locations included the 24,000 square foot warehouse on Elizabeth Brady Road, the 89,000 square foot warehouse on Eno Street (former warehouse location for "A Southern Season"), and locations at Alex Gold's Eno River Development. • At least three (3) prospective hotel investors have scouted sites in Hillsborough with the active site selection assistance of Orange County Economic Development, Town staff and realtors. • Within the next several weeks, the confidential firm holding a purchase option on the 89,000 square foot Eno Street warehouse is expected to make an announcement with its plans. Orange County Economic Development has assisted this firm for two (2) years to find a suitable office and warehouse location, and introduced the firm to this location a year ago. • Utility line extension (sewer) to sites south of 1-40 and Old N.C. 86 are needed in order to best market that property to high-caliber commercial, headquarters, research & development, light clean manufacturing, and retail investment prospects seeking locations with interstate exposure, highway access and close proximity to Hillsborough's new UNC Health Care facility. Agriculture • The Piedmont Food Agriculture Processing Center (PFAP) has recently assumed new local management, led by Eric Hallman, with additional support being provided by the Orange County Manager's Office, Orange County Economic Development's agriculture staff specialist (Mike Ortosky) and several County Commissioners. Internal discussions are ongoing related to ways to assist and retain PFAP tenants as they begin to transition as they grow. • Several Hillsborough and/or PFAP-based food processing firms, and neighboring farms are recipients of the County's Article 46-funded Small Business Loan and Grant programs. Arts • The Orange County Arts Commission made five (5) arts grants in the spring of 2015 totaling $9,300 to five (5) Hillsborough arts grant nonprofits.