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2 <br /> Advisory Committee <br /> Board of Health Dr. Alison Stuebe <br /> Orange County Board of Adjustment Leon Meyers <br /> Orange County Planning Board Lamar Proctor <br /> Judson Williamson from the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board said they distributed $1.35 <br /> million back to the community in the last year. He said that the funds went to public safety and <br /> non-profit agencies. He said $840,000 went to the county. He said they will be interviewing new <br /> board members soon and will present a recommendation to the Board. <br /> Commissioner Fowler asked what the current trend is for alcohol sales. <br /> Judson Williamson said that sales have been flat recently, and that February sales were <br /> down across the state. He said they have not gone to pre-COVID sales figures, but they are down <br /> from the peak. <br /> Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked about the amount of funding for Grow Your World. She <br /> asked how much the non-profit asked for. <br /> Judson Williamson said Grow Your World requested a lower amount of funding, under <br /> $10,000. He said that their proposal also was not focused on alcohol education, which is the ABC <br /> Board's focus. <br /> Chair Bedford asked how the request process works. She asked if the ABC Board <br /> requests proposals, then applicants are invited to speak and are evaluated. <br /> Judson Williamson said yes. He said all the groups come to one of two meetings at the <br /> beginning of the fiscal year to make their requests, then they come back mid-year to report on <br /> how they have used the funds. <br /> Chair Bedford said that they encourage all boards to increase the diversity of their membership. <br /> Commissioner Greene arrived at 7:07 p.m. <br /> Kristen Smith Young from the Economic Development Advisory Board showed the Board <br /> examples of products made by businesses that received small business grants. She thanked the <br /> Commissioners for appointing additional board members. She said highlights of the last year <br /> include the Morenaga expansion, 31 small business grants, and 17 agricultural grants. She said <br /> an ad campaign was run in Chapel Hill Magazine and WCHL. She said it is important to <br /> communicate the need for new product in the community. She said that means maximizing the <br /> opportunities in the three economic development zones. She said that strategically considering <br /> land not currently in an EDD is also a goal. She thanked Paul Slack, Chief Equity and Inclusion <br /> Officer, for providing training at a board meeting. She thanked the Economic Development staff <br /> for their assistance. She thanked the Board for continued funding for economic development <br /> opportunities and small business grants. She invited the Board to meet with an advisory board <br /> member,to tour the economic development districts, and to meet with Crystal Morphis, the person <br /> that is spearheading the economic development strategic plan. <br /> Commissioner McKee reiterated Kristen Smith Young's comments about touring <br /> economic development districts. He shared an example of touring Medline. <br /> Commissioner Carter and Commissioner Portie-Ascott said they recently took a tour with <br /> the Economic Development Director, Steve Brantley. <br /> Chair Bedford thanked the board for administering the grant process. <br /> D.R. Bryan of the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau Advisory Board said that <br /> Laurie Paolicelli is a great representative of the Visitors' Bureau. He said that Commissioner <br /> Greene is on the advisory board, along with elected officials from the municipalities, <br /> representatives from UNC, and representatives the arts, hotels, restaurant, and farming <br /> communities. He said the mission is to develop visitors' services in the county. He said they invite <br /> visitors, enhance their experience, and expand their stay. He said they spend about $100,000 a <br />