Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
6 <br /> Community Services <br /> • Economic Development—Article 46 Sales Tax <br /> o $3,007,726 Total Recommended FY2016-17 <br /> o Divided between Education and Economic Development <br /> o Education amount divided between the Districts by average daily membership <br /> proportions (ADM) <br /> Community Services <br /> • Economic Development—Article 46 Sales Tax- graph <br /> Commissioner Jacobs asked if there is a reason why the Agricultural Summit cost <br /> $7,500. <br /> Steve Brantley, Director of Economic Development, said the primary costs are for <br /> marketing, keeping the event free of a fee, the higher quality (local) luncheon, table and chair <br /> rentals, etc. <br /> In reference to the Orange Connect Scholarship Program, discussion ensued about <br /> what if someone besides an Orange County Schools or Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools <br /> student wanted to attend Durham Tech, such as a Commissioner or an adult learner. <br /> Commissioner Price said this question was discussed at the Durham Tech Board <br /> meeting. She said the program is a pilot and would stay as it is for this year, with other options <br /> possibly becoming available in the future since the funding comes from Orange County <br /> government. She said she reminded the Durham Tech Board that the Board of County <br /> Commissioners (BOCC) makes the final decision regarding County funding. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin said he would be interested in opening the scholarship to <br /> anyone. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said this is a program Orange County is establishing that <br /> benefits Durham Tech, and suggested Dr. Ingram be invited to come back for further <br /> discussion on this issue. <br /> Steve Brantley said young people without work experience have great difficulty in <br /> gaining employment. He said connecting high school students in the Career and Technical <br /> Education (CTE) program with local industry, via training programs such as Durham Tech, is a <br /> positive path to employment. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said to leave this issue for now and ask Durham Tech to track <br /> who is requesting this funding. <br /> Chair McKee said this may need a broader discussion with Durham Tech in the fall. <br /> Commissioner Price said Durham Tech in Durham already has a similar program, which <br /> allows high school students to go to college at no charge right out of high school. She said it <br /> was her understanding that Orange County wanted to do the same, with this year being the <br /> first crack at such a program. <br /> Commissioner Price said the Durham Tech Board wanted to put parameters around <br /> this program, and she told them no, as any such parameters would have to come to the Board <br /> of County Commissioners for a final decision. She said this first year is to try and encourage <br /> the students to go to college, and possibly later other options could be considered for this <br /> program. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin said since the BOCC set up the scholarship program, then <br /> Orange County can set the parameters. <br /> Commissioner Price said it is currently set up to model what the Durham Tech in <br /> Durham is doing for the year-long pilot project, unless the Board of County Commissioners <br /> wanted to do something different. <br />