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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: September 5, 2017 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 5-a <br /> SUBJECT: Community Development Block Grant — Economic Development Public Hearing <br /> DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> 1. Public Hearing Notice Ashley Moncado, Planner II, 919-245-2589 <br /> 2. Closeout Documents Craig Benedict, Director, 919-245-2575 <br /> PURPOSE: To receive comments from the public regarding the Community Development Block <br /> Grant — Economic Development (CDBG-ED) #13-E-2606 (Morinaga America Foods, Inc.) and <br /> authorize the Chair to sign the required grant closeout documents on behalf of the Board. <br /> BACKGROUND: In 2013, Orange County received a CDBG-ED award from the State of North <br /> Carolina for infrastructure improvements related to the construction of the Morinaga America <br /> Foods, Inc. The construction of the infrastructure supporting Morinaga America Foods, Inc.'s <br /> facility is complete. The project provided critical infrastructure improvements that allowed <br /> Morinaga America Foods, Inc. to build and staff a U.S. production facility in Orange County. The <br /> improvements consisted of 3,700 linear feet of 12-inch water line and 1,500 linear feet of 8 to 10 <br /> inch sewer line that was constructed to the site. Orange County was awarded $750,000 from <br /> CDBG for construction, and the County provided the match of $250,000 for engineering design <br /> work and grant administration related to the project. The construction project came in under <br /> budget at $716,903.08, which equals the total amount of CDBG-ED funds utilized for this <br /> project. Actual Orange County funds for this project total $232,995. <br /> Morinaga has documented the creation of at least 91 jobs during the first three years of <br /> operation, of which 72% are low and moderate income individuals, which exceeds the program <br /> goal of at least 60%. Morinaga America Foods, Inc. is a Living Wage Certified Employer. As a <br /> result of Morinaga America Foods, Inc. meeting the required hiring goal of at least 90 hires, the <br /> County has begun the grant closeout process. This process requires a public hearing to receive <br /> comments from the public regarding the Community Development Block Grant — Economic <br /> Development #13-E-2606 (Morinaga America Foods, Inc.). <br /> Attachment 1 includes the public hearing notice published in The Herald Sun and News of <br /> Orange on August 23, 2017. The required closeout documents are contained in Attachment 2. <br /> Recently, Orange County received praise from the North Carolina Department of Commerce <br /> regarding the County's initial application and grant administration efforts throughout this <br /> process. <br /> FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no direct financial impact regarding this item. <br /> SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goal is applicable to <br /> this agenda item: <br />