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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY BOARD <br />September 14, 2015 <br />Sheraton Hotel <br />Chapel Hill, NC 27517 <br />MINUTES <br />Present: Delores Bailey, Lori Eichel, Jim Kitchen, Ron Keizer, Mark O'Neal, and Paige Zinn <br />Orange County Staff: Steve Brantley, Yvonne Scarlett, Amanda Garner, Mike Ortosky, Tina Love <br />Call to Order <br />Lori Eichel (Vice- Chair) called the meeting to order. <br />Approval of May 22, 2015 minutes <br />MOTION by Mark O'Neal to approve minutes; seconded by Delores Bailey. Minutes were approved by consensus. <br />New Business <br />• Economic Development Advisory Board Appointment Recommendations — the Board discussed the <br />positions vacant for agriculture and tourism representation. <br />A motion was made by Jim Kitchen to recommend James Watts to fill the vacancy for <br />the agricultural position and Nitan Khanna to fill the vacancy for tourism position to <br />the Board of County Commissioners for consideration; seconded by Mark O'Neal - <br />Unanimous <br />• Orange County Economic Development Strategic Plan Update- Steve Brantley <br />Consensus was for a 2 page document with bullet points. Staff will come back with <br />revised plan based on the Advisory Boards' suggestions and recommendations <br />Old Business <br />• Status of Small Business Grant Program — Yvonne Scarlett <br />0 15 applications — 3 from Carrboro, 6 from Chapel Hill, 6 from Hillsborough <br />0 Eight grants were approved, four were deferred, one was denied, one withdrew. <br />0 Several applications for the next quarter. <br />• Status of Agriculture Grant Program — Mike Ortosky <br />• Seven grants were approved, one was denied. <br />• Postcards have been sent out to property owners with farm status. <br />Director's Report - Steve Brantley <br />• Incubator Update <br />• Annual Meeting between Orange County and the City of Mebane <br />• Morinaga Update <br />Open House on October 21St <br />Phase II within 2 years <br />40 Employees hired - 40 will be hired for 2nd shift <br />Production started <br />• Market increase in projects coming into office <br />• Project Updates - 8 projects in the last month <br />• Annual Work Plan and Report - Will be emailed to the membership. To be part of November's Advisory <br />Board meeting work <br />• Work plan to be completed by end of November <br />• Topics for upcoming year <br />Adiournment <br />