Orange County NC Website
16 <br /> <br />Chair Dorosin suggested keeping the Arts Moment as it is now, and if a group wants to <br />speak or promote something, there is time during the” items not on the agenda” for comments <br />to be made. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said the Arts Moment is Orange County’s answer to opening a <br />meeting with a prayer. <br />Commissioner Rich said the County is not used to an Arts Moment, and it is special to <br />all. <br /> <br /> 3. Planning for the 2018 Orange County Economic Development Summit <br /> <br />PURPOSE: To finalize planning for fall 2018 Economic Development Summit, including: <br />1) Identifying topics for discussion; <br />2) Selecting the date and time of day for the Summit; and <br />3) Confirming the roles of BOCC members during the Summit. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: <br />The Board of County Commissioners appropriated $30,000 in the FY 2017-18 budget from the <br />Article 46 sales tax to host an Economic Development Summit. At its April 3 meeting, the <br />BOCC approved holding the Summit on a to-be-determined date after the summer break and <br />chose to partner with WCHL to broadcast the Summit live on the radio and Internet. The Board <br />chose to hold the event at the Whitted Building so it could also be broadcast on the County <br />access channel (channel 1301 on Spectrum). The purpose of the Summit is to provide <br />information to residents and existing or potential businesses about the many services and <br />programs provided by Orange County Economic Development. <br /> <br />Staff met April 19 with representatives from WCHL and developed the four proposed topics <br />below. These topics were taken from ideas solicited by staff from the Board of Commissioners <br />earlier this year. It is proposed that each topic be discussed by a panel of experts for one hour <br />of the four-hour program. <br /> <br />In addition, WCHL will create short (60-second) profiles of individuals or businesses that are <br />Orange County Economic Development “success stories.” These stories will highlight <br />businesses that received assistance from Orange County Economic Development or students <br />who benefitted from an Orange County Scholarship to Durham Technical Community College. <br /> <br />Todd McGee reviewed these topics, suggesting one topic per hour of the event: <br /> <br />Suggested topics: <br />• Creative Economy – The non-profit arts segment generates more than 5,000 jobs and <br />attracts significant tourist spending in the County. The LAUNCH business incubator has <br />helped many small start-ups grow into thriving businesses that create jobs and <br />prosperity for residents. <br />• Recreation Destination – The Orange County/Chapel Hill Visitors Bureau recently <br />completed an assessment of the potential for a multipurpose sports/recreation facility. In <br />addition, Orange County already has existing assets (examples: the Soccer.com <br />complex in Mebane and the Mountains to the Sea Trail) that can be tapped to create <br />more recreation-related tourism revenue for the County. <br />• The Nexus of Local Food System – Orange County is home to many small specialty <br />farms that can attract visitors and create more economic output in the County through <br />more jobs and agritourism. Helping small farms bring their products to market is critical