Agenda - 03-13-2007-5l - Laserfiche WebLink

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NORTH CAROLINA ORANGE COUNTY THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into the _ day of March, 2007, by and between Orange County, North Carolina, 200 S. Cameron Street, Hillsborough, North Carolina, hereinafter referred to as "County" and Smithson Mills, Inc. of Asheville, North Carolina, hereinafter referred to as "Mills" for a Reaional Value-Added Shared-Use Processing Facility. WITNESSETH: WHEREAS, the on-going work of the Economic Development Commission strives to seek agricultural economic development through innovative and market appropriate initiatives; and WHEREAS, the local and regional farming.community has evolved to meet local market opportunities and the tremendous increase in consumer interest in locally grown, healthy, nutritious, and fresh farm products WHEREAS, the increase in farmers selling at farmers' markets, direct to consumers, from farm stands, and through local coops and conventional grocers, WHEREAS, there is strong interest from local school districts, universities, hospitals, and other institutional food buyers to obtain locally grown or raised farm products. WHEREAS, in 2005, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners appointed interested citizens and farmers to an Agricultural .Center Working Group that examined, among other issues, the need and justification for avalue-added, shared use processing facility. WHEREAS, the Agricultural Center Work Group presented their findings to the commissioners on 25 May 2006 and recommended that the Board move to conduct a feasibility study for avalue-added, shared-use processing facility. AND WHEREAS, two-thirds of the funding to conduct avalue-added shared-use processing facility has been raised from partnerships with Alamance, Chatham, & Durham Counties and Weaver Street Market and Whole Foods. Therefore: Article 1. In consideration of the above and the mutual covenants and considerations hereinafter set forth, the County and Smithson Mills agree that Mills will conduct a feasibility study that will: 1. Provide third-party verification of research methodologies and analysis of primary data gathered by participating counties, including potential client surveys and market surveys. 2. Identify production lines that respond to the documented need/desire to produce given products. 3. Provide guidance on legal organization structure such as, incorporation, acquisition of product liability and personal injury insurance. 4. Establish protocols for client management, including recommended facility use policies, proper interface with regulatory agencies including the county health inspectors and NCDA Food & Drug inspection, and provide guidance on the viability of limited meat processing under USDA or NCDA certification. Recommendations would also include storage fees and production fees.