Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
DocuSign Envelope ID:BE7848D2-BCC2-436E-BF83-620F915696DB <br /> Mark Sherburne inquired about the Visitors Bureau sales strategy based on receiving ARPA funds. When <br /> are we anticipating those funds to be available and what happens if we don't receive those funds? <br /> Laurie answered that the County has received ARPA funds but that they are stair-stepped over the next <br /> three years through 2024. Commissioner Sally Greene added that the basic outline of the County ARPA <br /> funds is that the County is receiving a total of$28,000,000 over two years. The Board of County <br /> Commissioners has decided to draw down a little less than half, $12,000,000 rather than $14,000,000. <br /> Katie Murray, who just spoke with Deputy County Manager,Travis Myren, about ARPA funds this week, <br /> added that Travis advised that the County will be making the final decisions about dispersing the rest of <br /> the ARPA funding by the end of the calendar year. Mark Sherburne asked, if there is a delay in the ARPA <br /> funds because the County is still making decisions on when potential funds will be released, are any of <br /> the strategies Marlene presented, ones we will want to deploy before we hear back on ARPA funds? <br /> Laurie responded that staff is already working with Clean Design and Clean Design is currently putting <br /> together a media plan with a cost estimate. Laurie and Marlene plan to call a meeting with hoteliers <br /> and those affected most by the lack of Sunday through Thursday business to review this media plan. <br /> New Business/ Roundtable <br /> •Jon Hartman-Brown, Economic Development Director—Town of Carrboro <br /> The Carrboro Town Council has approved a COVID-19 Mitigation Business Grant Program for <br /> Carrboro-based businesses. Applications will be open beginning next Monday, November 1" <br /> and will be open for three weeks. These grants target tourism-based businesses, BIPOC <br /> businesses, and businesses that have really be adversely harmed by the pandemic. <br /> • Mayor Lydia Lavelle—Town of Carrboro <br /> The Carrboro Town Council is continuing the 203 Project and had another approval at last <br /> night's meeting. They are really close to releasing that and are hoping to get bids right after the <br /> New Year and go before the local government commission and have everything set-in-stone so <br /> they can have ground breaking in the spring. <br /> •Tanya Moore— Associate Vice Chancellor, UNC-Chapel Hill <br /> - UNC had a great fall commencement and weekend for the Class of 2020. <br /> - There is a lot of excitement for upcoming basketball. <br /> - The UNC Visitors Center has had 11,000 visitors from all 50 states and 41 countries since <br /> reopening on a part-time basis in February. <br /> Tanya's department is currently rolling out UNC's vaccine requirement because UNC has <br /> $165,000,000 in government contracts they are subject to President Biden's Executive Order on <br /> vaccines. <br /> • Matt Gladdek—Executive Director, Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership <br /> - Festifall has been going great and is a big success downtown. <br /> - We are having outdoor markets the first three weeks of December on Sundays since The <br /> Carolina Inn can't hold them indoors. <br /> - The decision hasn't been made yet on an outdoor tree lighting. <br /> - We are working in collaboration with Carrboro and Hillsborough to get businesses to put lights <br /> up. Not necessarily holiday oriented so they can be kept up throughout the winter, inviting <br /> people downtown. <br /> - The Town of Chapel Hill's ARPA business grants are live and available. <br /> 2 1 P a g e CHOCVB BOD Meeting October 27 , 2021 <br />