Agenda - 03-12-2024; 2 - Request to Jointly Fund a Position to Support Black, Latinx, and Refugee Owned Enterprises

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2 This page can be found: https://www.orangecountync.gov/2788/Minority-Business- Resources • The Chapel Hill Orange County Visitors Bureau has built and continues to maintain several websites in support of Black, Latinx and refugee affiliated groups, to include: o www.chapelhilIdiversity.com which is designed to amplify diverse narratives; and o https://chapelhilldiversity.com/businesses/ which is a continuously updated Black Owned Businesses directory. • The County's Eno Arts Mill studio in Hillsborough serves as an art-based small businesses incubator by providing critical workspace for area artists which also has a focused marketing campaign. Currently, 43% of the County's artist-tenants are Black, Latinx, or refugee. • The Piedmont Food Processing Center offers a variety of assistance and financial assistance for incubator members. Of the current tenants, 48% are women-owned small businesses and 59% are owned by non-white individuals. • The County also provides funding to support Durham Technical Community College's Small Business Center. The Center provides free, one-on-one business counseling and a variety of business skills seminars/webinars. Of the enterprises served by the Center in Orange County, 83.3% are women-owned, 16.7% are Hispanic/Latino owned, and 63.6% of all the businesses served identify as part of a minority group. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no direct financial impact is associated with this discussion. The proposal asks the County to make an annual commitment of $30,000. SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goals are applicable to this item: • GOAL: FOSTER A COMMUNITY CULTURE THAT REJECTS OPPRESSION AND INEQUITY The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race or color; religious or philosophical beliefs; sex, gender or sexual orientation; national origin or ethnic background; age; military service; disability; and familial, residential or economic status. • GOAL: ENSURE ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY The creation and preservation of infrastructure, policies, programs and funding necessary for residents to provide shelter, food, clothing and medical care for themselves and their dependents. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: The following Orange County Environmental Responsibility Goal impact is applicable to this item: • ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND WASTE REDUCTION Initiate policies and programs that: 1) conserve energy; 2) reduce resource consumption; 3) increase the use of recycled and renewable resources; and 4) minimize waste stream impacts on the environment. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board discuss the Chamber's funding request and provide direction to staff on next steps.