Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
5 <br /> Attachment B <br /> Supplemental Information from the Chamber President Regarding Request to <br /> Jointly Fund a Chamber Position to Support the Growth of New and Existing <br /> Black, Latinx, and Refugee Owned Businesses' <br /> Carrboro <br /> Carrboro has executed a Service Contract with The Chamber for three years (FY24, FY25, FY26) at <br /> $20,000 per year for a total of$60,000. It is my understanding that earlier this fiscal year, Carrboro Town <br /> Council allocated $200,000+ in ARPA funds to support the growth and creation of BIPOC businesses and <br /> that those funds are being used to support this effort. I do not believe that the Council considered or <br /> took action on our specific request. <br /> Chapel Hill <br /> The Chapel Hill Town Manager has agreed that Chapel Hill will join in funding this effort at$30,000 per <br /> year,for three years, for a total of$90,000. Chapel Hill is reviewing Carrboro's signed Service Contract <br /> and is drafting one for signing. Manager Blue says has identified the funds for this year and I understand <br /> that subsequent funding will be included in subsequent budgets. I was invited to brief the Council <br /> Committee on Economic Sustainability(which includes all members of Council), but the proposal and <br /> related funding are not scheduled to go before the Council for a vote. <br /> The Carrboro service contract includes these key provisions. <br /> - Hire a full-time professional to support the growth of new and existing Black, Latinx, and <br /> refugee-owned enterprises who will serve as a navigator and connector identifying BIPOC <br /> enterprises and entrepreneurs, build trusting relationships, map and connect them to resources, <br /> create strong networks, and help them navigate complex systems of small business support. <br /> - Deliver on the following responsibilities: <br /> o Create and maintain a list of local BIPOC-led enterprises; <br /> o Conduct a needs assessment of local Black, Latinx, and refugee-owned enterprises; <br /> o Map local business-support organizations, education and training opportunities, sources <br /> of grants and capital, and other resources; <br /> o Connect, convene, and identify/create collision spaces; <br /> o Staff the Black Business Alliance and support El Centro Hispano and local refugee- <br /> support organizations; <br /> o Represent BIPOC business interests to policy leaders and decision makers; and <br /> o Establish and improve upon local BIPOC business retention and persistence rates. <br /> Q:Will this initiative duplicate any existing County or municipal efforts. <br /> A: No.There is currently no fulltime person dedicated to identifying, connecting, serving, and supporting <br /> BIPOC businesses in any of the local business support organizations (Orange Economic Development, <br /> Chapel Hill Economic Development, Carrboro Economic Development, Hillsborough Economic <br /> Development, Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber, Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro, Small <br /> 1 Copied from an email to Deputy Manager Travis Myren dated March 6,2024 <br />