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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY BOARD <br /> September 12, 2023 <br /> Well Dot <br /> 419 W Franklin St <br /> Chapel Hill, NC 27516 <br /> Minutes <br /> Members Present: Sharon Hill, Tom Proctor, Dave Gephart, Kristen Young, Hasan Abdullah, Jane <br /> Saiers, Johnny Morris <br /> Members Not Present: Barbara Jessie-Black, Estella Johnson, Elise Tyler <br /> Guest Speakers: Todd Metzker and Dwight Bassett <br /> Orange County Staff: Steve Brantley, Amanda Garner, Lindsey Hirni, Mike Ortosky <br /> Call to Order <br /> The meeting was called to order by Kristen Young at 11:35 a.m. <br /> Approval of Minutes <br /> A motion was made by Dave Gephart and seconded by Sharon Hill to approve the Minutes from the May <br /> 9, 2023 meeting. The motion passed unanimously. <br /> Old Business <br /> Amanda shared details on our Advertising Campaigns to promote the Grant Programs with Triangle Digital <br /> Media Partners and WCHL. The grant cycle ending June 30th had a higher number of applications which <br /> seems a result from the advertising. Our department wants to continue to help more small businesses with <br /> grant funding and complementary advertising through these continued campaigns. Dave suggested we <br /> check a local radio station "WHAP" in Hillsborough and recommended The Daily Tar Heel classified <br /> section. We did purchase a half page of ad space in the Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce digital <br /> directory. <br /> New Business <br /> Kristen asked the board members if they are interested in joining the Grant Committee to let us know. <br /> Guest Speakers <br /> Todd Metzker, Senior Director of Member Service Operations at Well Dot Inc. spoke with the group about <br /> their company and what they offer to the businesses who contract out their services. He gave a brief <br /> overview of their local employee status as well as their headquarters. <br /> Dwight Bassett, Director of Economic Development, from the Town of Chapel Hill gave a presentation to <br /> let the board know that the Town is working to improve the economic vitality of Chapel Hill through job <br /> creation and tax growth. Mr. Bassett shared that there is a need for jobs and desire for life science <br /> companies based on the numbers he showed. He mentioned a few accomplishments such as creating <br /> over 800 new jobs from entrepreneurship (Recruitment of Well Dot Inc. and Wegmans), the NC bio <br /> committing to opening downtown and the East Rosemary redevelopment, as well as the creation and <br /> implementation of the ReVive Recovery Plan. Dwight briefly went through the strategy for Innovation <br /> District in downtown Chapel Hill. Sharing sites and projects like Innovate Carolina, Life Science Center <br /> with wet lab and office space, downtown parking center, professional apartments, Elements Hotel and the <br /> goals and metrics for these efforts. Dwight made mention of the Merritt Properties, Honorbridge, and the <br />