Agenda - 09-02-2008 - 6e - Laserfiche WebLink

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z 13 sector entities, Orange County acted as the fiscal agent for the contract and contracted with Smithson Mills, who used to work for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and has worked with almost every single value-added facil""ity in the State. The feasibility study is undennray and there should be a report in November. The survey accomplishes several things: 1. A survey of potential users for types of products at this facility; 2. Organizational structure of this entity -Orange, Chatham, Alamance, and Durham Counties; Weaver Street Market; and Whole Foods. The consultant will come fonnrard with some ideas of how this facility might be run. 3. Site selection options. George Lucier asked about the two counties that did not respond and Noah Rannells said that Caswell and Person Counties declined to participate, but they are interested in this idea. Tom Vanderbeck asked about the value of the study and it was answered $15,000. He asked how this consultant was chosen and if all entities were involved. Noah Rannells said that input was solicited from the other counties and he spoke with the Chatham Ag Advisory Board. There were then surveys mailed to all participants of the advisory group as well as the representatives from Chatham County. The survey was also distributed among local listservs and was available on Orange County's website. Commissioner Jacobs asked about the respondents - 64 from four counties -and why this is an indicator. Noah Rannells said that he talked with Smithson Mills today, who said that the response rate was very good and very diverse. The response to the survey indicates a strong demand for this type of facility. George Lucier asked about the next steps and Chair Carey said that once they get the final report and the recommendations, it would be a good time for the collective group to meet again. Mayor Chilton asked about the extent of the relationships with community colleges. Noah Rannells said that the last meeting was hosted by Alamance Community College Culinary Program. There has been an effort to invite Durham Tech, but the participation has been nil to this point. Alamance Community College is a strong partner. Chair Carey asked Noah Rannells what the jurisdictions should do between now and when the report is submitted, and Noah Rannells said that there is opportunity now for informal discussion and thought and not to allow this to lose steam. He said that he understands that Senator Ellie Kinnaird is looking at pulling together a meeting to examine the bill she put in and what it might change to in the next session. There is also an interest in having a representative from each of the County Commissioner bodies to get together in a smaller group to talk about the results of the study. Commissioner Jacobs said that it would be good to have one Commissioner from each jurisdiction to be engaged in this process. He said that Orange County put in its legislative goals last year $1.5 million for avalue-added agriculture center. He said that there is an opportunity to get 3-4 congressmen involved in this to get this written into the federal budget. It would be a lot more effective if multiple Commissioners from multiple counties were involved. George Lucier volunteered Tom Vanderbeck to be part of this advisory board for the Value Added Agricultural Products Processing Center. Chair Carey volunteered Commissioner Jacobs. Dan Engals was volunteered from Alamance County. 3. Res~ional Water/Watershed Protection Issues