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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: March 13, 2007 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. 5- <br />SUBJECT: Regional Value-Added Processing Center- Feasibility Study Appropriation and <br />Contract Approval <br />DEPARTMENT: Economic Development PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Contract <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Dianne Reid 245-2326 <br />Noah Ranells 245-2330 <br />PURPOSE: To appropriate $2,500 and approve a contract for a feasibility study for an <br />agriculture products regional value-added processing center. <br />BACKGROUND: During the past few years, the local and regional farming community has <br />evolved to meet local market opportunities. The tremendous increase in consumer interest in <br />locally grown, healthy, nutritious, and fresh farm products has supported an increase in farmers <br />selling at farmers' markets, direct to consumers, from farm stands, and through. local coops and <br />conventional grocers. In addition, there is strong interest from local school districts, universities, <br />and hospitals to obtain locally grown or raised farm products. <br />An oft-cited limitation to marketing local farm products is the lack of processing facilities. In <br />2005, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners appointed interested. citizens and <br />farmers to a working group that examined, among other concerns, the need and justification for <br />a value-added, shared-use processing facility. The report submitted by the Agricultural Center <br />Work Group, presented to the commissioners on May 25, 2006, contained a recommendation <br />that the Board move to conduct a feasibility study for avalue-added, shared-use processing <br />facility. <br />In October of 2006, then BOCC Chair Barry Jacobs sent a letter to .neighboring counties <br />(Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Durham, & Person) and to local grocers (EarthFare, Weaver <br />Street Market, & Whole Foods) offering the opportunity to partner with Orange County to <br />conduct the feasibility study. As of February 28, 2007, Alamance, Chatham, & Durham <br />Counties have each pledged $2,500. Additionally, Weaver Street Market and Whole Foods <br />have pledged $1,000 each, for a total of $9,500. The partnership that has developed will likely <br />be able to leverage local investment with state and federal grants. A draft contract to conduct <br />