Orange County NC Website
4 <br />Executive Director 1 <br />Community Home Trust 2 <br />PO Box 2315 3 <br />Chapel Hill, NC 27515 4 <br />919-967-1545 ext. 307 5 <br /> 6 <br />Commissioner Price asked if the IFC were going to leverage grants next year. 7 <br />Bonnie Hammersley said she and Chair Dorosin met with the leaders of the capital 8 <br />campaign who said the level of funding commitments needed to reach a certain level before 9 <br />they start leveraging grants. 10 <br />Chair Dorosin said there is the option of a zero percent loan, and if the Board were in 11 <br />support of one, it could start with this, and could possibly convert it to grant funding, or a 12 <br />forgivable loan, after further discussion. He said he does not want the Board’s decision to have 13 <br />an adverse effect on the IFC tonight. 14 <br />Commissioner McKee said a forgivable loan is the same as a grant. 15 <br />Chair Dorosin said the Board could put some conditions on it, such as forgiving the loan 16 <br />if IFC fails to raise the additional funding after a certain time period. He said if IFC could raise 17 <br />the money than it would pay back the loan. 18 <br />Commissioner McKee said he is concerned about going down that path, and if the 19 <br />Board is going to provide a grant then that should be done from the get go. He said loans that 20 <br />are potentially forgivable are always forgiven. He said the Board put the policy in effect, and it 21 <br />does not need to do a work around tonight without having further discussion. He said there are 22 <br />too many agencies that would want, and be worthy of, this same treatment. 23 <br />Commissioner Jacobs said he would be more comfortable if staff would bring back 24 <br />some criteria of what the zero interest loans would look like at the next BOCC meeting on 6/19. 25 <br />He said he would be inclined to give IFC one third of what it is asking for. He said the County 26 <br />should not go into this thinking it will waive the amount of the loan, since it makes it 27 <br />psychologically harder for IFC to raise funds. 28 <br />Chair Dorosin said he likes the idea of a matching grant, as opposed to outright cash 29 <br />without conditions. 30 <br />Commissioner Burroughs said she agreed with Commissioner Jacobs about the 31 <br />psychological impact on fundraising when knowing a loan can be potentially forgiven. She said 32 <br />she still supports discussing this topic further in the fall. 33 <br />Commissioner Rich asked if any other local government entities have committed to the 34 <br />IFC campaign. 35 <br />Bonnie Hammersley said the Town of Chapel Hill received a request, which she thinks 36 <br />the Town is honoring, but she will find out. 37 <br />Jackie Jenks, IFC, thanked the Board for even considering this item, and said the IFC is 38 <br />working with Chapel Hill on a potential funding source. 39 <br />Commissioner Rich asked if those funds would be a grant or loan. 40 <br />Jackie Jenks said a grant. 41 <br />Chair Dorosin asked if the Town of Carrboro has made a commitment. 42 <br />Jackie Jenks said IFC has not received a commitment from Carrboro, but the Town has 43 <br />offered to waive some fees and the IFC may share its parking with the Town. 44 <br />Chair Dorosin asked if there was a timeline in place. 45 <br />Jackie Jenks said IFC would like to start construction a year from now, but would need 46 <br />to have all of the funds committed in advance, and the IFC is looking to get the $5.3 million 47 <br />secured soon. She said the IFC has surpassed the 50% mark, which was needed in order to 48 <br />apply for some funding from various foundations. She said a loan will not help IFC reach the 49 <br />$5.3 million required to build, but IFC would consider it as a bridge loan allowing for 50 <br />23