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22 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Commissioner Dorosin said that the message should not be depressing, about scarcity. We <br />should emphasize some of the positive things we are doing around affordable housing, <br />around FSA, around the things the bond is allowing us to do at Chapel Hill High and for <br />housing. We are careful and responsible stewards of the public’s monies, and from that <br />stewardship we are accomplishing great things for our residents. Ms. Hammersley added <br />that this is a manageable situation. It is not “slash and burn;” it will help us to be even more <br />creative at finding better ways together to meet our residents’ needs. Commissioner Dorosin <br />added that the long term picture looks especially good. <br /> <br /> <br />1:45 Stretch Break <br /> <br />2:00 Economic Development Districts <br />After a short break, Jim Kitchen, Chair of the County’s Economic Development Advisory Board, <br />introduced Joe Hines and Blake Hall of the Timmons Group. Timmons Group presented on the <br />Economic Development Site-Related SWOT Analysis that they had conducted (PPT): <br /> <br />SWOT ANALYSIS <br /> <br />Overview <br /> Why is Economic Development <br />Important to the County <br /> Background Review <br /> Study Findings <br /> Study Recommendations <br /> Wrap-up discussion <br /> <br />Why do you need Economic Development? <br /> Creates “Living Wage” Jobs & Opportunity for ALL your citizens (blue collar and white collar <br />jobs) <br /> Local tax revenue from Real Estate and Machinery & Tools <br /> State tax revenue from Employee Wages & State Income Tax <br /> Helps build resources for your locality and state <br /> Creates wealth within your community <br /> Social Justice - allows you to build schools, pay for healthcare and other social programs as <br />well as help set up training programs for your citizens <br /> <br />Where Orange County stands today…. <br /> Lacking “Ready to Go” Sites and Buildings <br /> Not as much developable property as we thought once you place constraints on the <br />properties & remove inhabited properties <br /> Ever increasing competitive market with shorter and shorter timelines for decisions to be <br />made (i.e. Need diverse “Ready to Go” Product) <br /> Properties are overpriced compared to adjacent localities (Alamance) <br /> Lacking water & sewer capacity (gallons per day) in districts <br /> Missing out on opportunities for Prospects due to lack of Sites and Buildings as well as <br />inadequate water & sewer capacities <br /> <br />Desired Outcomes of Study <br /> More “balanced” Residential vs. Non-Residential Split of Tax Revenues <br /> Try to accomplish 70/30 Split Countywide