Orange County NC Website
10 <br /> the Finance and Administrative Services Department and Tax Department to issue a credit towards the <br /> taxpayer's property tax bill. The program has a proposed launch date of October 8, 2021. All applications <br /> must be received by S:OOpm on December 15, 2021 to allow time for processing. <br /> Youth Enhancement Fund—Department of Social Services: $25,000 <br /> This project provides additional funding to the youth enhancement fund to support enrichment <br /> programs for children living in low-income families. For several years,the Department of Social Services <br /> has paid the fees and other costs for children to participate in recreation, tutoring, and other social <br /> programs. Social Workers identify children who would benefit from these activities and work with <br /> numerous providers to secure slots for these services. Many of the children participate in camps or <br /> organized sports and benefit from the socialization, group membership or individualized attention they <br /> receive.The Department of Social Services (DSS) will use the extra funds to serve more children, <br /> particularly given the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and youth. The Board of County <br /> Commissioners endorsed this concept several years ago as a way to provide equity for all children and <br /> all program types. DSS anticipates spending or obligating these funds by June 30, 2021. <br /> Recommended FY 2021-22 Round 2: <br /> Point Ionization—Detention Center—Asset Management Services: $68,800 <br /> These funds will provide Point Ionization in the HVAC systems in the new Detention Center. <br /> Point Ionization is a useful tool in removing airborne viruses, such as SARS CoV2,from air systems.This <br /> should help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in congregate settings such as the detention center. <br /> Tourism and Hospitality Recovery—Economic Development: $150,000 <br /> This project provides funding to the Orange County Visitors Bureau to aid in the recovery of <br /> tourism and hospitality in Orange County.The county's central business district of Chapel Hill and <br /> around the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (where two-thirds of the tourism, and hospitality <br /> industry resides) lost 60%of its tourism revenues during the pandemic because the leading tourism <br /> generator is the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Recovery will need to include a safe welcome <br /> center that serves as an attraction for guests to visit the central business district, learn about Chapel <br /> Hill's history and use this experience as a reason for exploring near-by businesses related to the <br /> hospitality industry. <br /> To answer this call,Visitors Bureau leaders contacted former resident and Grammy winning <br /> singer and song writer,James Taylor,whose song "Carolina in My Mind,"was written about Chapel Hill. <br /> Leaders knew that a new visitor market would be attracted by a personalized welcome from James <br /> Taylor, a live rendition of his music,tourism materials related to his favorite things in Chapel Hill, and <br /> photo opportunities with his album covers, signed by James, welcoming visitors to Chapel Hill. For <br /> recovery to happen in Orange County,tourism leaders must create assets apart from the University of <br /> North Carolina.This locale will be in the heart of the Central Business District and Visitors Center leaders <br /> are working to add displays and brochures on surrounding local businesses to help this industry <br /> recovery. <br />