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Approved 5/16/17 <br />ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY BOARD <br />March 21, 2017 <br /> <br />The Hickory Tavern <br />Chapel Hill, NC <br /> <br />MINUTES <br /> <br />Present: Jim Kitchen, Mark O’Neal, Paige Zinn, John Anderson, DR Bryan <br />Guest: Anthony Carey <br />Orange County Staff: Steve Brantley, Mike Ortosky, Amanda Garner, Yvonne Scarlett <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Call to Order <br />The meeting was called to order at 12:15 by Jim Kitchen, Chair. <br /> <br />Old Business <br />• Update on S.W.O.T. Analysis - Amanda Garner <br />Amanda Garner led the discussed of the S.W.O.T. Analysis RFPs submitted. Discussion included: <br />o Focus on infrastructure necessity <br />o EDDs feasibility <br />o Additional viable sites in each EDD <br />o Finalist (to be interviewed by Board Members and Orange County Staff) were selected: <br />• Creative - Elkin, NC <br />• Timmons Group - Raleigh, NC <br />• Axcel Innovation LLC - Charlottesville, VA <br />• Thomas P. Miller & Associates - Indianapolis, IN <br />• Update on Orange County Agricultural Summit - Mike Ortosky <br />Mike Ortosky provided a brief overview of the Agricultural Summit held on February 20, 2017 at the <br />Cedar Grove Community Center: <br />o Over 200 attended <br />o Beau Bennett (Beau’s Catering) a recipient of both the Small Business Loan Program and <br />Business Investment Grant Program) catered the event <br />o Topics and breakout sessions included: <br />o Bona Fide Farms & Agritourism <br />o Rural Broadband <br />o Finding land & starting a farm <br />o Orange County Food Council <br />o Wholesale and retail markets <br />o Farm tax issues <br />• Recruitment of Potential Board Members - Steve Brantley <br />Mr. Brantley told the group that the Board of County Commissioner have a regularly scheduled meeting tonight <br />and will most likely fill the three vacancies. The applications presented to the BOCC for consideration were <br />those of Peggy Brady (recommended by John Anderson), Sharon Hill (recommended by Delores Bailey), <br />Anthony Carey and Keith Coleman. <br /> <br />New Business <br />Steve Brantley discussed the departments marketing and branding opportunities including the relationship <br />with the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC). <br /> <br />Economic Development Advisory Board – next meeting scheduled for May 16 at the Siena Hotel at noon. <br /> <br />Business Investment Grant Committee – next meeting scheduled for April 19 (10 am – Noon) at the office <br />of Jennings in Chapel Hill. <br /> <br />Adjournment: 1:33 pm <br />