Orange County NC Website
8 <br /> What are your Board/Commission's most important accomplishments? <br /> • Several Advisory Board Members met individually with some members of the <br /> Orange County Board of Commissioners to discuss economic development <br /> needs and objectives. The plan is to continue to have a direct dialog periodically <br /> throughout each year. <br /> • In 2022 the Advisory Board's subcommittee reviewed many small business grant <br /> applications that were submitted by Orange County residents for the "Small <br /> Business Grant Program", and approved 25 small business grant awards, <br /> totaling $107,234.00 for the year. <br /> • In 2022 the Advisory Board also assisted in the "Agriculture Economic <br /> Development Grant Program" to receive and review applications, approving 14 <br /> grant awards totaling $121,362.00 in support of Orange County's small farmers <br /> and food processors for the year. <br /> • The Advisory Board Chair, Sharon Hill, participated in the WCHL For'Em on the <br /> Hill event in December, 2022 which highlighted multiple grant recipients and <br /> advertised the Business Investment and Agriculture Grant Programs through the <br /> live radio event and various commercials that ran during and following the event. <br /> List of Specific Tasks, Events, or Functions Performed or Sponsored Annually. <br /> • The Advisory Board meets quarterly to review, score and consider approval of all <br /> applications submitted by Orange County residents to the Orange County Small <br /> Business Investment Grant program, and the Orange County Agriculture Grant <br /> program. <br /> Describe this board/commission's activities/accomplishments in carrying out <br /> BOCC goal(s)/priorities, if applicable. <br /> • Advisory Board members assisted Orange County with the regular review of the <br /> many small business loan & grant applications, and agriculture/food processing <br /> firms' grant applications that are submitted to the County throughout the year. <br /> This is a valuable service that promotes the growth of Orange County's local <br /> economy, and directly helps fulfill the Orange County Board of Commissioners' <br /> social justice goal specific to promoting economic development, which is to <br /> "Ensure Economic Self Sufficiency: The creation and preservation of <br /> infrastructure, policies, programs and funding necessary for residents to provide <br /> shelter, food, clothing and medical care for themselves and their dependents." <br />