Minutes-10-03-2023-Business Meeting

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15 Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked if a budget amendment has ever been required over the years. Travis Myren said this has not happened before. Commissioner Fowler said it would be helpful to have a work session on this. She said that she has a lot of the same questions that she had two years ago. She asked the percentage of viable businesses that exit the facility and then locate in Orange County. She asked why Durham has representation on the board when the county is no longer contributing. She said she is curious about the structure. She said one of the reasons it is not a non-profit is because this is not a depressed area, but the website lists it as a non-profit. She said she is curious about why Orange County is subsidizing this and has heard that other areas are doing this, but she would like to know what percentage are subsidized by counties. She said she would like to know if there are more subsidies in more rural areas. She said that she would like to know if they can require that a percentage of orange Couty businesses are the ones being helped. She said she is still trying to figure out why they are subsidizing for people all over the state. She said she is not saying she is against this but looking to increase the benefits to Orange County. She said she wants to know if there is a waitlist for people to use the facility. Commissioner Greene said they are not a 501 c(3)non-profit but they are technically called a non-profit in NC, they are not exempt from taxes in North Carolina. Sue Ellsworth said they have to balance each kitchen and the capacity of each kitchen. She said the full catering kitchen and production equipment get a lot of use. She said that there is a waiting list for some kitchens, but others have none. She said the dry fill product kitchens have less of a wait. Commissioner Fowler asked if priority is given to Orange County residents for the waitlist. Sue Ellsworth said they always give priority to Orange County residents. She said even when they felt they were at capacity they always made an effort to fit in Orange County residents. Eric Hallman said they get about 12 inquiries a week, and some are ready to start immediately. He said they balance what is available with when they can start. Commissioner Richards asked if a user forms their business there, are they an Orange County business. Eric Hallman said they have to register their production address as the facility and that would mean their production address is Orange County. Commissioner Richards said that is what she thought. She said they would be considered Orange County businesses while they are there, but not once they graduate from the facility. Chair Bedford said they have their corporate registration address and their production address. Commissioner Richards asked if they would have two registered addresses. She said she is trying to understand the relationship between where people live that use the facility. She said it would be an Orange County manufacturing business but once they are out, they would be based on their own addresses. Eric Hallman said they would use their corporate address and that would usually be their home. He said Orange County does not have a lot of ability to keep companies local, and companies usually go out of state. He said they have completed a study of how to keep the studies local with the Kenan Institute. Sue Ellsworth said they talk a lot about the numbers but she wanted to take a moment and make sure the people are discussed too. She said there are people behind the brands of each one of the products created by the businesses. She reviewed some of the products gifted to the Board members and spoke on the hard work of each of the business owners. She said she works closely with the people that make the products and work on their businesses. Vice-Chair McKee asked if PFPC is still serving as a center for food trucks. Sue Ellsworth said yes, and she thinks there are about 15 now. She encouraged a visit to the facility.