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<br />4 <br />• Facilitate an input session with the Project Management Team at the beginning of the process, then <br />facilitate a strategic planning workshop with the Team later in the process. <br />• Economic Development Staff interviews <br />• County Leadership interviews – commissioners, manager, planning director, and other key department <br />directors <br />• Input sessions with the following stakeholder groups: (we will finalize during scope discussions) <br />o Community Input Sessions (3-4) <br />o Economic Development Advisory Board <br />o Education and talent development partners (Orange County Schools, Durham Tech, UNC, etc.) <br />o Business Leadership (2) <br />• Interview key leader (staff and/or chair) of allies: <br />o Utility partners <br />o Chamber and other business associations <br />o Municipal economic and community development staff <br />o Entrepreneur organizations <br />o EDPNC representative(s) who has worked projects in Orange County <br />o RTRP <br />• Business community survey <br />• Community survey <br /> <br />Deliverable: Written summary of engagement, findings, and how it supports the strategic plan. Information will <br />be presented to the Project Management Team in a milestone meeting. <br /> <br />Economic Development Program Assessments <br />We believe in an asset-based approach to strategic planning. That approach includes a thorough <br />understanding of the current economic development program, gaps, and opportunities. <br />Product Assessment <br />Even though talent drives the economic development location decision, the initial draw to a community is most <br />often product. For this assessment, we will draw from our experience evaluating sites, parks, and buildings for <br />EDOs and corporate clients to evaluate Orange County’s inventory, specifically addressing whether the <br />inventory aligns with target sectors including entrepreneurial startups, small businesses, and agri -businesses. <br />We will evaluate industrial sites/parks using our proprietary system, CreativeSiteAssessment.com, county GIS, <br />as well as an on-the-ground site selector review. The assessment evaluates total acreage, remaining acreage, <br />utilities, access, topography, development red flags, curb appeal, etc. <br /> <br />Our team will make recommendations on product development such as : <br />• Filling gaps in startup and growth space for small businesses <br />• Future industrial site and building development <br />• “Next steps” such as due diligence on existing sites and parks <br />• Best practices in public-private development partnerships <br />• Best practices in funding product development , including entrepreneurship space <br /> <br />Crystal Morphis is a LEED Green Associate, denoting our firm’s commitment to sustainable development. <br />Talent Assessment and Strategy <br />Workforce quantity and quality will continue to be the most important competitive differentiation between <br />locations. Our team will review existing workforce development service providers and additional programs and <br />plans. The process will begin with an ove rview of the existing information on major employers, area assets, <br />and regional trends. Then we will analyze the laborshed and talent pipeline. We will gather data on the <br />occupations that are growing, wage trends, and skills gaps. <br /> <br />Docusign Envelope ID: 122863EA-19E8-4E71-8604-98BA2A36EEF0