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10 <br /> • The Advisory Board also supports the growth and recruitment of agricultural & <br /> foods systems related local businesses,promotion of entrepreneurial talent via <br /> the "LAUNCH"high-tech incubator facility in Chapel Hill and the Piedmont <br /> Food&Agriculture Processing facility(PFAP) in Hillsborough, and the <br /> expansion of new, high-technology employment opportunities. <br /> What are your Board/Commission's most important accomplishments? <br /> • The Advisory Board Members met with members of the County <br /> Commissioners to have direct dialogue regarding economic development needs <br /> and objectives. The plan is to continue to have these conversations periodically <br /> each year. <br /> • The Advisory Board's subcommittee reviewed many small business grant <br /> applications that were submitted by Orange County residents for the "Small <br /> Business Grant Program", and approved 23 small business grant awards, <br /> totaling $134,200.00 in 2020. <br /> • The Advisory Board also assisted in the "Agriculture Economic <br /> Development Grant Program"to receive and review applications, approving <br /> 11 grant awards totaling $88,223.00 in support of Orange County's small <br /> farmers and food processors in 2020. <br /> • Members of the Advisory Board also participated in 2 rounds of the Board of <br /> Commissioners' special "COVID emergency small business grant <br /> programs", approving 78 awards totaling $520,131.00 in 2020. <br /> • Overall, grant award activity benefiting small businesses & small farmers <br /> placed a total of$742,554.00 in economic development funding throughout <br /> Orange County and the towns of Hillsborough, Chapel Hill and Carrboro for <br /> the year in 2020. All of these grants were made possible by funds provided by <br /> the County's Article 46 (1/4 cent retail sales tax)proceeds for the year. <br />