BOH agenda 022416 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Orange County, despite its charm and amenities, is home to many households living in poverty. In recent years, the County has intensified its effort to increase economic development in both the rural and urban areas in order to: bring good paying jobs to unemployed and underemployed residents; and to diversify and expand the tax base so as to decrease the tax burden on homeowners and property owners who pass the costs to renters. To assure a ready and successful workforce, we have forged a partnership with Durham Technical Community College. Our public schools also are teaching STEM and STEAM courses to prepare our young people for a competitive edge in the global economy. The Family Success Alliance teams are working with entire households to help them rise above systemic poverty—i.e., summer reading programs for pre -K youngsters and career assistance for adults While Orange County government is unable to provide jobs to all individuals in needs, it can forge forward with a campaign to attract, sustain and retain a range of businesses and employers. The County can continue to promote the living wage movement by seeking to do business with companies that offer living wages to their employees. The issue that remains to be resolved is the prejudice and discrimination that historically has put certain populations in poverty and that continues to keep certain people in an oppressed or dependent state. Certainly, cities and counties thrive when families, neighborhoods and businesses are strong— socially, financially and politically.