Agenda 05-06-25; 8-a - Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 1 Advisory Committee 2 Board of Health Dr. Alison Stuebe 3 Orange County Board of Adjustment Leon Meyers 4 Orange County Planning Board Lamar Proctor 5 6 Judson Williamson from the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board said they distributed 7 $1.35 million back to the community in the last year. He said that the funds went to public safety 8 and non-profit agencies. He said $840,000 went to the county. He said they will be interviewing 9 new board members soon and will present a recommendation to the Board. 10 Commissioner Fowler asked what the current trend is for alcohol sales. 11 Judson Williamson said that sales have been flat recently, and that February sales were 12 down across the state. He said they have not gone to pre-COVID sales figures, but they are 13 down from the peak. 14 Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked about the amount of funding for Grow Your World. 15 She asked how much the non-profit asked for. 16 Judson Williamson said Grow Your World requested a lower amount of funding, under 17 $10,000. He said that their proposal also was not focused on alcohol education, which is the 18 ABC Board's focus. 19 Chair Bedford asked how the request process works. She asked if the ABC Board 20 requests proposals, then applicants are invited to speak and are evaluated. 21 Judson Williamson said yes. He said all the groups come to one of two meetings at the 22 beginning of the fiscal year to make their requests, then they come back mid-year to report on 23 how they have used the funds. 24 Chair Bedford said that they encourage all boards to increase the diversity of their membership. 25 26 Commissioner Greene arrived at 7:07 p.m. 27 28 Kristen Smith Young from the Economic Development Advisory Board showed the 29 Board examples of products made by businesses that received small business grants. She 30 thanked the Commissioners for appointing additional board members. She said highlights of the 31 last year include the Morenaga expansion, 31 small business grants, and 17 agricultural grants. 32 She said an ad campaign was run in Chapel Hill Magazine and WCHL. She said it is important 33 to communicate the need for new product in the community. She said that means maximizing 34 the opportunities in the three economic development zones. She said that strategically 35 considering land not currently in an EDD is also a goal. She thanked Paul Slack, Chief Equity 36 and Inclusion Officer, for providing training at a board meeting. She thanked the Economic 37 Development staff for their assistance. She thanked the Board for continued funding for 38 economic development opportunities and small business grants. She invited the Board to meet 39 with an advisory board member, to tour the economic development districts, and to meet with 40 Crystal Morphis, the person that is spearheading the economic development strategic plan. 41 Commissioner McKee reiterated Kristen Smith Young's comments about touring 42 economic development districts. He shared an example of touring Medline. 43 Commissioner Carter and Commissioner Portie-Ascott said they recently took a tour with 44 the Economic Development Director, Steve Brantley. 45 Chair Bedford thanked the board for administering the grant process. 46 D.R. Bryan of the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau Advisory Board said that 47 Laurie Paolicelli is a great representative of the Visitors' Bureau. He said that Commissioner 48 Greene is on the advisory board, along with elected officials from the municipalities, 49 representatives from UNC, and representatives the arts, hotels, restaurant, and farming 50 communities. He said the mission is to develop visitors' services in the county. He said they 51 invite visitors, enhance their experience, and expand their stay. He said they spend about