Minutes 10-03-2017 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

15 the State of North Carolina calls the North Central Prosperity Zone. For the North Central Region, Golden LEAF has budgeted $11 million for the initiative, and anticipates it may see total grant requests rise to $22.5 million if all 15 regional counties each receive a maximum grant capped at $1.5 million per county. Orange County is eligible to submit up to three projects totaling no more than $1.5 million for all projects. The due date for the County's initial grant application to be submitted to Golden LEAF is October 20, 2017, and a final decision will be made on April 5, 2018. Approved grant applications require a 20% cash match at the local level. Grant applications that have the best chance for approval and funding are those that address economic development, education, workforce development, physical infrastructure (including health care infrastructure), and agriculture. Other factors that can influence Golden LEAF's favorable review of a grant application include the following: • Description of need in the County • The County's process to select the project being nominated for a grant, and how it is a direct fit with Golden LEAF's core priorities • The County's past planning efforts, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analyses, and related studies that focus on the nominated projects • The County's and related agencies' ability to conduct the work, achieve results, and manage all reporting documentation requirements • Examples to show broad community support for the project • A description of the 20% local cash match by the County • Any previous Golden LEAF grants in the past (such as Golden LEAF's funding assistance with the Piedmont Food & Agricultural Processing Center (PFAP) food processing incubator) • The impact and potential outcomes, and population served in the County by the proposed projects Five potential projects have been submitted to the County Manager's office for consideration and are summarized in Attachment 1. Orange County Proposals • Eno Economic Development District (EDD) Gravity Sewer Extension • Buckhorn-Mebane EDD Gravity Sewer Extension • Hillsborough EDD Water and Sewer Infrastructure Town of Carrboro Proposal • Old NC 86 Light Industry/Flex Park Piedmont Food & Agricultural Processing Center (PFAP) Proposal • Regional Cold-Chain and Co-packing Initiative Carrboro Mayor Lydia Lavelle has provided a letter at Attachment 3 in support of the Old NC 86 Light Industry/Flex Park grant requested by the Town. 2 Additional information on the grant applications, provided as Attachment 4, is only available electronically at: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xof3dc6ovOcu1m1/AABp5axggCzOID OUii6myoZa?d1=0 FINANCIAL IMPACT: The Golden LEAF grant application process requires a 20% cash match for any grant proposal. The County's water and sewer projects are already budgeted with debt service being paid through Article 46 funding. As a result, Article 46 funds would serve as the match for those projects. The Town of Carrboro plans to utilize the US Department of Agriculture Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant Program (USDA REDLG), administered through Piedmont Electrical Coop, under which the town would pay back over a 10 year period at 0% interest to cover its 20% local match requirement. PFAP would be seeking Article 46 funding to cover the 20% local match ($70,000.) If one of the County's sewer infrastructure projects is selected and funded with grant funds, Article 46 funds dedicated to debt service may be reallocated to other projects. Steve Brantley, Economic Development Director, made the following PowerPoint presentation: