Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
6 <br /> (1) Appoint applicant Kevin Thomas as a new member, to fill Paige Zinn's upcoming <br /> vacancy, in the advisory board's designated"core business sector". <br /> (2) Re-appoint John Morris and Barbara Jessie-Black to a second 3-year appointment. <br /> (John Morris fills a"core business sector"position, while Barbara-Jessie Black fills the <br /> advisory board's "nonprofit" sector). <br /> (3) Extend for 1 final year, as allowed by the advisory board's Bylaws and Guidelines, the <br /> following 3 current members: Anthony Carey (hospitality/hotel sector), James Watts <br /> (agriculture/foods systems sector), and John Anderson (core business sector). <br /> The requested action to approve (a) 1 new appointment, (b) 2 reappointments, and(c) a final 1- <br /> year term extension for 3 other members, is intended to accomplish the following economic and <br /> social justice goals: <br /> • maintain consistency of the existing economic development advisory board as Orange <br /> County continues its' long-term recovery out of the COVID pandemic, <br /> • continue and expand the diversity of the advisory board's current make-up regarding <br /> women and minority membership. With the requested appointments outline above, the <br /> advisory board would have 4 of 10 members as women, and 3 of 10 members as African <br /> American minorities. <br /> • Leverage the diverse range of economic development experience members bring to the <br /> County,with respect to the advisory board composition requiring a range of sectors <br /> (agriculture, hospitality, nonprofit, UNC university, and core business), as required by the <br /> Guidelines. <br /> • retain expertise in these member's service in reviewing and authorizing the many <br /> applications for the County's 2 Article 46-funded small business and farm-related <br /> financial grant programs (managed by the Economic Development Department). The <br /> actual results over the past 14 months to support Orange County's many small business <br /> and farms led to the advisory board members' assistance to review of hundreds of <br /> applications, and authorization of 188 awards totaling $954,759.58 in total County aid. <br /> Other Comments: <br /> • The attendance record for all current advisory board members for the previous 15 months <br /> is attached for your review. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> Steve Brantley <br /> Director, Orange County Economic Development <br />