Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-18-2011 - 7aORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting DatE~: October 18, 2011 Action Agenda Item No. ~- Q, SUBJECT: North Carolina Tomorrow Cornprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for Orange County a:> Part of the Seven County Triangle J Council of Governments DEPARTMENT: County Manager/ Economic PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) Yes Development ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: (1) Notice of Public Hearing Michael Talbert, Interim Assistant (2) North Carolina Tomorrow Executive County Manager, (919) 245-2153 Summary Dottie Schmitt, Economic Development, (919) 245-2327 Steve Brantley, Economic Development Director, (919) 245-2326 PURPOSE: To conduct a public hearing to alllow residents the opportunity to express views and proposals prior to the submission of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Grant Application through the NC Department of Ccmmerce. 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 descriiption of the proposed collaborative partnership. The County is the applicant for these funds since CDBG funds must be awarded to a local government grantee. TJCOG will act as the sub-grantee to carryout 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. The Board conducted a first required public hiearing on this item at its October 4, 2011 regular meeting. This is the second required public hearing. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial irnpact 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, authorizing the Manager to sign the application on behalf of the County. ~~r~-.~ PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE CDBG NC Tomorrow Application The Orange County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing at 7:00 PM on October 18, 2011, at the Southern Hurrian Services Center, 2501 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27514. The purpose of thus hearing is to allow citizens the opportunity to express-views and proposals- prior to the :submission of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) NC Tomorrow Grant application. A full description of the proposed $50,000 (CDBG) NC Tomorrow Grant application activities including location, activities and costs will be provided during the public hearing. 2 All interested persons are invited to attend this hearing. Accommodations for disabled or non-English speaking residents will be made available upon advance re4uest. 3 N®rtl-~ Carolina Tomcarr®vv 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 for the initiative, North Carolina Regional Economic Prosperity Strategy (REPS). REPS will be a "tool" for use byplanning 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 assistthe 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 asmany as i7non-entitlement local governments serving as the lead regional coordinator within each ofthe i7 Council of Governments (COGS) regions. In exchange for the grant, the rnon-entitlement local unit of government must foster regional multi jurisdictional participation around the program goals and develop the regional NC Tomorrow Sustainable StrategicPlan that will build the foundation forthe Statewide Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. The Regional Councils will lead the effort to devE~lop the Statewide CEDS that will center on the six livability principles established by the federal Pairtnership 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 fJorth 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 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.