Item 1 - Boards and Commissions – Annual Work Plans-Reports

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12 • Assist, advise and advocate for diverse, sustainable and appropriate economic development throughout our community, including the attraction and retention of new retail, manufacturing, commercial, distribution, entrepreneurial, agricultural, arts, tourism, affordable housing & senior housing options. • Participate and advise in discussions, evaluations and County Commissioner decisions on appropriate economic development uses of the proceeds from the Y4 cents sales tax revenues to be used for economic development; • Assist with and provide advice to Orange County's small business loan program. • Assist the Economic Development department with the development of new marketing materials, ad campaigns and effective media, and general "branding" efforts that promote business recruitment to Orange County. • Help to advise the Economic Development department, the County Manager's Office and BOCC on appropriate levels of financial incentives for a variety of potential recruitment projects, and best uses of Article 46 funding. • Become more involved with the County's agriculture economic development & business retention efforts. What are the concerns or emerging issues your board has identified for the upcoming year that it plans to address, or wishes to bring to the Commissioners' attention? • Increase & diversify Orange County's overall tax base and employment opportunities among clean, high -tech and desirable firms through the recruitment of new businesses, and from retention and expansion efforts with existing businesses. • Promote the addition of clean, light manufacturing, warehouse operations, corporate headquarters, commercial and retail businesses. • Improve the County's communication relations effort regarding the importance of economic development, endorsing the continuing utility infrastructure development of Orange County's 3 economic development districts (EDDs). • Support small business and agricultural related small business ventures, the LAUNCH Chapel Hill" innovation center ", help administer the small business loan and grant programs, and play an advisory role in the key uses of Article 46 funds (1/4 quarter cent sales tax proceeds for economic development) that generally promotes the County's local economy. • Advocate for reasonable County property tax rates and programs that best serve the residents of the County, while at the same time promotes social justice in economic development access for all.