Agenda - 03-14-2023 Work Session; 1 - Boards and Commissions – Annual Work Plan Summaries

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10 County's various Commercial Industrial Transition Activity Nodes (CITANs) and 3 Economic Development Districts (EDDs). • Encourage the BOCC to pursue key elements of the SWOT Analysis executive summary and Advisory Board's recommendations. This assistance may include identifying suitable acreage currently located outside of Orange County's designated Economic Development Districts (EDDs) and Commercial Industrial Transition Activity Nodes (CITANs) which have long-term development potential to support new employment and tax base growth. • Encourage the Board of Commissioners to consider setting long-range strategic economic goals that support the diversification and resilience of Orange County's local economy, and which considers the wellbeing of our residents who face the greatest economic challenges in our community. • Work with businesses and employment and job training partners to determine the various types of jobs that are needed by emerging and growing businesses, particularly in the biotechnology and information technology fields. Seek to establish a coordinated employment and training initiative to prepare a ready workforce to address these needs. • Current events, influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, have caused dramatic shifts to occur nationally in the food and beverage market, and the resulting disruptive effects in the existing and emerging food processing and manufacturing industry. Therefore, the Advisory Board recommends that Orange County Economic Development continue to collaborate with Orange County Cooperative Extension's staff in their effort to embrace and capitalize on these global, national, and statewide trends, particularly the efforts outlined in the current North Carolina Food Processing and Manufacturing Initiative. The Advisory Board believes this will have positive effects on the local economy, create jobs, and diversify and strengthen local agricultural opportunities and the Orange County tax base. • Assist and advise the County on the recommended levels and types of desirable retail, commercial, distribution and light manufacturing development that should be prioritized for recruitment into the County's three (3) Economic Development Districts and adjacent Commercial Industrial Transition Activity Nodes (CITANs). • Assist, advise and advocate for diverse, sustainable and appropriate economic development throughout our community that increases employment opportunities and the tax base, including the attraction and retention of new retail, light manufacturing, commercial, distribution, entrepreneurial, agricultural, arts, tourism, affordable housing & senior housing options.