Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
13 <br /> a highly effective way to disseminate information, and the VB should be more creative in <br /> connecting with residents about all that Orange County has to offer. <br /> Chair Rich said the VB still needs office space, but not necessarily a building. <br /> Commissioner Greene said she has a different perspective, and despite being high tech, <br /> she and her family still frequent visitor centers all over the country simply for the "human touch" <br /> aspect. She said there is still some talk about turning the old Town Hall into a museum and co- <br /> locating the visitor's center there, and wondered if this idea is still on the table. She said visitors <br /> love stories and personal recommendations. <br /> Commissioner Price said she also likes to frequent visitor's centers around the country, <br /> and finds the human presence to be important. <br /> • Economic Development Advisory Board Jim Kitchen, Chair& Steve Brantley <br /> Jim Kitchen said he wanted to remind the Board about the Point of the Economic <br /> Development (ED) SWOT analysis that the Economic Development Advisory Board (EDAB) <br /> initiated in 2018. He said the purpose was to: <br /> 1. Determine the number of viable sites in the Economic Development Districts (EDDs) <br /> 2. Determine what to do next with what to do next in order to be more competitive with <br /> the surrounding counties <br /> 3. Develop a plan for more shovel ready sites, and move the needle significantly for <br /> creating more opportunities to diversify Orange County's tax base, while funding <br /> education, delivery of services, etc. <br /> 4. Promote social justice by bringing in high quality, high paying jobs to those who need <br /> them. <br /> Jim Kitchen said the BOCC has spirited ED discussions in the fall, including the pre- <br /> zoning and optioning of land within the EDDs; the type of industries Orange County wishes to <br /> attract; commissioning a GIS study; ED in Cedar Grove, etc. He said Orange County lacks a <br /> clear and defined ED strategy, and he thinks this strategy should come from the Board of <br /> County Commissioners. He said the ED office can do it, but the BOCC should take charge as <br /> the CEO's of the County. He said he did not run any of his remarks past Steve Brantley, but <br /> plans to proceed with them anyway. He said the ED plan should do the following: <br /> • Determine why ED is vital to Orange County, first deciding, "is it?" or"isn't it?" <br /> • Determine where ED currently stands and where does the Board want it to go. <br /> • Determine where ED will be physically located in the rural parts of the County, what <br /> locations make the most sense, and align rules, regulations, and zoning with these <br /> goals. <br /> • Develop quantifiable, measurable goals ED to get there. <br /> • Determine the potential impact on the County's budget: how much funding, if any, should <br /> be allocated to ED. <br /> Jim Kitchen said all of the above can only be achieved via a comprehensive strategic <br /> plan around ED. He said this plan is vital due to the following: <br /> • Potential GIS sites cannot be identified, if one does not know what one is looking for <br /> • One cannot know if the land across West Ten Road makes sense without a needs <br /> assessment <br /> • How to know which land to option <br /> • How to know which companies to attract <br /> • How are we positioned relative to competitors <br />