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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY BOARD <br /> March 17, 2026 <br /> Orange County Drakeford Library <br /> 203 S Greensboro Street (Southern Meeting Room 114) <br /> Carrboro, NC 27510 <br /> Minutes <br /> Members Present: Joy Mercer, Estella Johnson, Dave Gephart, Sharon Hill, Lisa Kaylie, Ivy Taylor, John <br /> Kim, Dan Rawlins <br /> Orange County Staff: Steve Brantley, Amanda Garner, Lindsey Hirni <br /> Call to Order <br /> The meeting was called to order by Joy Mercer at 11:40 a.m. <br /> Approval of Minutes <br /> A motion was made by Sharon Hill and seconded by Dave Gephart to approve the Minutes from the <br /> January 13, 2026 meeting. The motion passed unanimously. <br /> Open Discussion for Board Members <br /> Dr. Ivy Taylor provided an update about Carolina North where there will be a new live-work-play campus <br /> developed on 1,000 acres of land however the forest area will not be developed. There will be a housing <br /> component, and a community advisory board committee is being formed. <br /> New Business <br /> Steve Brantley introduced Dan Rawlins, our newest board member who fills the Agriculture seat. <br /> Amanda Garner provided information about the recently updated attendance policy which states that any <br /> member who missed 50% of the meetings during a one-year term would be removed from the board. <br /> Steve provided a PowerPoint Presentation on Economic Development Goals, Successes & Challenges in <br /> Orange County. The board members had an open discussion about the Economic Development Districts <br /> of Buckhorn, Eno and Hillsborough. In the presentation Steve went over the strengths, weaknesses, <br /> opportunities and threats for Orange County and shared scenarios on how the County could increase <br /> non-residential taxes and jobs. The board was interested in how they could be supportive towards <br /> accomplishing these goals. <br /> Adjournment <br /> Joy Mercer adjourned the meeting at 1:10 PM <br />