HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-04-2014-13 (8)INFORMATION ITEM
ORANGE COUNTY
NORTH CAROLINA
Economic Development
MEMORANDUM
To: Greg Wilder
From: Steve Brantley, Director
Date: July 1, 2014
RE: 2014 Out - Standing BOCC Meeting Follow -up Actions
In follow -up to the April 15, 2014 BOCC Meeting:
Provide BOCC feedback related to the Small Business Loan Program (SBLP), including provisions regarding the Program's access
limits for individuals with criminal records and individuals with pending criminal issues, to the Program's Board of Directors and
bring back feedback /follow -up information to the Board of Commissioners.
On April 17, 2014 the Small Loan Committee met and discussed BOCC concerns regarding the Program's access limits for individuals
with criminal records, interest rates, and efforts to increase loans to minorities. Several board members felt the change would be ill
advised, citing concerns about the county losing potentially money from loans that should not be approved due to high credit risk.
In follow -up to the May 20, 2014 BOCC Meeting:
Review and consider a request by Commissioner Rich that staff develop a database of all businesses in Orange County.
The following database resources are currently available and /or maintained by the Orange County Economic Development (OCED)
office: Orange County Major Employers *, Orange County Manufacturing Businesses *, International Owned Businesses, Minority
Owned Businesses and Orange County Farms. These databases are extremely difficult to maintain and out -of -date immediately.
*information previously provided by the State of North Carolina's Employment Security Commission (ESC, now renamed Workforce Solutions) is no
longer available due to that agency's internal confidentiality rules.
This task will be more difficult to maintain on a consistent basis, due to constant changes, and, any database obtained will not be all
inclusive.
In follow -up to the May 20, 2014 BOCC Meeting:
Review and consider request by Commissioner Rich that the County pursue assisting PORCH with locating warehouse storage
space.
Orange County Economic Development (OCED) has contacted PORCH via the agency's web site, and is being assisted by the Chapel
Hill /Carrboro Chamber of Commerce to identify and contact the appropriate agency representatives to offer assistance. Also, the
OCED office has met with Asset Management regarding potential county -owned warehouse space, such as at the Cedar Grove
facility, that may be available.