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4 <br /> said it reminded her again that leadership is about more than policy; it's about our decisions that <br /> affect people's daily lives and their sense of worth. <br /> Chair Bedford provided emergency food distribution times: Saturday at McDougle Middle <br /> School from 12:00-4:00 PM and Saturday from 8:00-10:00 AM at 113 Mayo Street (DSS) in <br /> Hillsborough, noting both are while supplies last. <br /> 4. Proclamations/ Resolutions/ Special Presentations <br /> a. Orange County Arts Commission 2025-26 Annual Grant Recipients <br /> The Board acknowledged local artists and organizations receiving 2025-26 Orange County Arts <br /> Grants. <br /> BACKGROUND: <br /> Orange County Annual Grants Cycle <br /> The Orange County Arts Commission (OCAC) administers two (2) primary grant programs each <br /> year. The Grassroots Arts Program utilizes state funding to provide support for nonprofit <br /> organizations and schools conducting arts programming. The Artist Project Grant utilizes county <br /> funding for artist-led community projects. <br /> Statistics regarding this year's grant cycle are noted in the chart below. <br /> FUNDING SOURCES <br /> NC Arts Council Funding: Grassroots Arts Program $ 49,525 <br /> Orange County Funding: Artist Support Grants $ 28,800 <br /> Orange County Funding: Outside Agencies $ 29,711 <br /> TOTAL AVAILABLE FUNDING $108,036 <br /> Total dollar amount requests $139,112.50 <br /> Total grants awarded 31, or 91% of eligible applications <br /> Total applications received 37, 34 eligible <br /> Total first-time applicants 9, or 24% of applicants <br /> The OCAC grant review and awards process: <br /> 1. The grant application process is open for one month. Two virtual training sessions <br /> occurred, and the OCAC director was available for one-on-one meetings. <br /> 2. After the due date, OCAC staff conducted an initial compliance and eligibility review. <br /> Applications found noncompliant or outside of the grant requirements are considered <br /> disqualified. Eligible organizations were given a compliance score (1-10) based on prior <br /> year adherence to grant requirements such as logo usage and reporting. New applicants <br /> automatically receive a "10" Compliance Score. <br /> 3. Qualified applications are forwarded to members of each review panel for initial review <br /> and scoring. Grant panels in the visual, performing, and literary arts are composed of <br /> OCAC Board Members with relevant experience and guest artists from the community. <br /> Guest panelists are compensated for their time. <br /> 4. Non-governmental Grassroots Arts Program (GAP) applicants were also evaluated by a <br /> Financial Review Panel who examined submitted financial documents to determine <br /> financial solvency and stability. <br />