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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-04-2011 - 7bORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: October 4, 2011 Action Agenda Item No. ~ - b SUBJECT: North Carolina Tomorrow Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for Orange County as Part of the Seven County Triangle J Council of Governments DEPARTMENT: County Manager/ Economic Development ATTACHMENT(S): (1) Notice of Public Hearing (2) North Carolina Tomorrow Executive Summary PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) Yes INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Talbert, Interim Assistant County Manager, (919) 245-2153 Dottie Schmitt, Economic Development, (919) 245-2327 Steve Brantley, Economic Development Director, (919) 245-2326. PURPOSE: To conduct a public hearing to receive public input regarding submittal of a Grant Application through the NC Department of Commerce. BACKGROUND: The NC Department of Commerce and the 16 regional North Carolina Councils of Governments are working cooperatively to create a more uniform approach to economic development planning across the state. The project is to produce a comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS) for each region. These regional plans would be consolidated into a State strategy. The regional councils are also working with the federal Economic Development Administration on this initiative. Attached is an Executive Summary of the initiative providing a more detailed description of the proposed collaborative partnership. The Grant Application will require two public hearings with the second public hearing scheduled for the Board's October 18, 2011 regular meeting. Orange County will be one of the seven county applicants in the Triangle J Council of Governments (TJCOG) Region. The County is the applicant for these funds since Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds must be awarded to a local government grantee. TJCOG will act as the sub-grantee to carry out the work and manage the grant. The anticipated grant award is $50,000 for a period of 18 months. The award will not hinder any other CDBG efforts by Orange County and will not count against County caps. The application deadline from the NC Department of Commerce is November 10, 2011. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with holding the public hearing. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board hold the public hearing and direct staff to proceed with an application for the North Carolina Tomorrow initiative funded by a Community Development Block Grant. 2 PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE The Orange County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing to receive citizen input_ regarding submittal of a Grant Application to the NC Department of Commerce. The public hearing will be held on October 4, 2011, at 7:00 PM., at the Department of Social Service B:ailding. Hillsborough Commons 113 Mayo Street, Hillsborough, NC .27278. The public is invited to attend and comment. Written comments addressed to the Orange County Board of Commissioners, P.O. Box 8181, Hillsborough, NC 27278, will be accepted prior to the hearings. Each year the CDBG provides funding to local governments for hundreds of critically- needed community improvement projects throughout the state to assist with community development projects that serve low and moderate income persons. These community improvement projects. are administered. by Community Investment. and .Assistance.. Division under eight grant categories. Types of .programs funded include housing rehabilitation, infrastructure, economic development, small business and entrepreneurship, capacity building and catalyst programs. The purpose_ of this public hearing is to receive citizen input as to the needs of low and moderate income residents and neighborhoods within the County. Based on the neesis identified, the County may be eligible to apply for CDBG funds to address those needs. Should the County Choose to apply for any CDBG funds during 2011-12, a second public hearing will be held directly concerning that specific project and application. All facilities are handicapped accessible. All interested persons are invited to attend this hearing. Accommodations for disabled or non-English speaking residents will be made available upon advance request. fort Carolina Tome~rrow A Collaborative for Sustainable Economic Growth EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The North Carolina Association of Regional Councils through a collaborative partnership with the US Department of Economic Development, North Carolina Department of Commerce- Community Development Division and the SAS institute of Cary, NC to create a Statewide Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). The Statewide CEDS can serve as a "blueprint" for growth and development based on common- sense, sustainable-best practices and "one-version of the truth" provided by data collection and analysis from the SAS Institute. The SAS Institute is developing software specifically forthe initiative, North Carolina Regional Economic Prosperity Strategy (REPS). REPS will be a "tool" for use by planning professionals, economic development professionals, elected officials and private industry developers. REPS will be housed at the SAS Institute in Cary at their World Headquarters in the Institute for State and Local Government that was established in zoio. EDA has provided funding to assist the Association in developing a Statewide CEDS. The NC Division of Community Assistance has funded the initiative through the NC Catalyst Program of the CDBG funds. They are providing planning grants to as many as z7non-entitlement local governments serving as the lead regional coordinator within each ofthe i7 Council of Governments (COGs) regions. In exchange forthe grant, the non-entitlement local unit of government must foster regional multi-jurisdictional participation around the program goals and develop the regional NC Tomorrow Sustainable Strategic Plan that will build the foundation forthe Statewide Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. The Regional Councils will lead the effort to develop the Statewide CEDS that will center on the six livability principles established by the federal Partnership for Sustainable Communities and the six Investment Principles set forth by the US Department of Economic Development. In addition, the Association will follow the National Association of Regional Development Organization's (NADO) Standards of Excellence for CEDS development. The planning process will include all sectors of the economic development community including local, regional and state economic developers, planners, private industry, educational institutions, elected officials and many other community organizations that work on the ground to make North Carolina a great place to live, work and play. The Association and its partners aspire to develop a strong foundation for common sense development and growth that will create jobs for our citizens while conserving the natural 3 resources that make North Carolina the special place it has always been...a place where companies can thrive and grow their business and where families want to live.