Agenda 02-08-22; 2 - Efland Area Water and Sewer Presentation with Status Report on Interstate Properties in the Efland Area and Possibilities for Development-Economic Development

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3 funded water/sewer projects that have now been completed by the County, through active marketing to prospective businesses, and as a result of strong interest by industrial and commercial developers seeking to identify properties in Orange County. For example, in recent years the Buckhorn Economic Development District has attracted in excess of$365 million dollars in new taxable investment, more than 975 full-time new jobs to be created, and over 1.9 million square feet of new construction to be added. This activity is represented by the companies Morinaga, ABB, Medline Industries, Thermo-Fisher Scientific, and Piedmont Metalworks. All of these companies are creating full-time jobs with health care and related employment benefits, and at salaries that are well above the Orange County living wage. ABB is Orange County's single largest private employer, and is currently seeking applicants to fill 400 new manufacturing positions that will average over $71,000 per year in salary. The attached map entitled "Hillsborough EDD & Buckhorn EDD — Large Sites" shows the location of four approved and/or in-process spec developer business parks located in the Hillsborough and Buckhorn Economic Development Districts (EDDs). Each of these four locations represent excellent potential for the County to attract new advanced manufacturing, distribution, research and related commercial development by tenants of the same caliber as companies such as Thermo-Fisher Scientific. To illustrate, the Research Triangle Logistics Park in the Hillsborough EDD has been approved for up to 2.4 million square feet of development on 160 acres at an Interstate 40/Old NC 86 exit. Second, the Ohio-based industrial developer Al. Neyer has now established two new business parks (Buckhorn Industrial Park and Mebane Business Centre) located along Buckhorn Road, and with total development potential of up to 1.6 million square feet on 167 acres. Both of these parks were annexed and rezoned into the Mebane city limits. Thermo Fisher Scientific is located here, with Medline Industries located adjacent. And in Efland, the Minnesota-based developer Oppidian is currently pursuing site plan approval with Orange County for authorization to build up to 918,000 square feet on approximately 100 acres. The Buckhorn EDD has several other large acreage tracks, as identified in red outline on the attached "Hillsborough EDD & Buckhorn EDD — Large Sites" map. These parcels have excellent development potential, existing utilities in place, immediate interstate access, and all are currently receiving review by a variety of well-funded investor prospects that are talking with land owners. This entire Hillsborough EDD/Buckhorn EDD region received a technical review in February 2018 in a comprehensive SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis performed by the consultant firm Timmons Engineering. The executive summary of the SWOT analysis (see link below) affirmed these areas' good marketability, development potential and overall strengths that can further diversify Orange County's local economy. The SWOT Analysis Final Report can be located here: https://www.orangecountync.gov/DocumentCenter/View/17070/SWOT-Analysis-Overview-of- the-Final-Report-PDF FINANCIAL IMPACT: The CIP supports some additional utility upgrades in the area. SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goals are applicable to this item: • GOAL: ESTABLISH SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE LAND-USE AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of people of all races, cultures, incomes and educational levels with respect to the development and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, policies, and decisions. Fair treatment means that no group of people