HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 6-c - Framework for 2018 Orange County Economic Development Summit
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: April 3, 2018
Action Agenda
Item No. 6-c
SUBJECT: Framework for 2018 Orange County Economic Development Summit
DEPARTMENT: Economic Development and
Community Relations
ATTACHMENT(S):
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Todd McGee, (919) 245-2302
Steve Brantley, (919) 245-2326
PURPOSE: To:
1) approve and authorize staff to proceed with a framework option allowing staff time to plan
the event and to hire any outside consultants/planners needed; and
2) identify one or more of the topics to be discussed in conjunction with the selected option.
BACKGROUND: The Board of County Commissioners appropriated $30,000 in the FY 2017-
18 budget from the Article 46 sales tax to host an Economic Development Summit. Staff
solicited potential topics from the BOCC in February and has developed three options based
around that feedback.
Option 1: Summit on the Hill
In conjunction with WCHL radio (1360 AM and 97.9 FM), this would be a live discussion about
the County’s economic development efforts focused up to four areas. The program would be
broadcast live on WCHL on Wednesday, June 13, 2018, from 3-7 p.m. during the drive-time
hours, which would provide maximum audience. The radio station’s programming is also live-
streamed via its website, which would make it accessible to people throughout Orange County.
One hour of programming would be devoted to each of four topics (a different topic each hour)
with unique panels of experts, including members of the Board of Commissioners and local
stakeholders, to discuss and respond to questions from listeners. All the programming would be
archived on WCHL’s website (Chapelboro.com), providing a Listen on Demand option that could
be promoted for the rest of the year.
WCHL would conduct extensive promotion in the six weeks leading up to the event, including
creating a social media hashtag to provide the community an avenue to submit questions and
comments before and during the broadcast. The County would also extensively promote the
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event through social media, the website and electronic publications. Panelists would be able to
respond in realtime to comments submitted by listeners. After the event, WCHL would host a
reception with other community leaders at University Mall.
The radio station would handle all logistics (reaching out to panelists, coordinating appearances,
recording promos, etc.) for the program and for the reception afterwards.
This option provides an opportunity to spread the message of the County’s economic
development efforts to a wider audience. Members of the BOCC would have the opportunity to
interact directly with residents through the social media component and/or questions called in
during the show. Pre-recorded segments from individuals who have received Arts Commission
or Economic Development grants or started out in the Piedmont Food and Agricultural
Processing Center (PFAP) or LAUNCH would highlight local successes, emphasizing the
County’s efforts to boost local businesses and start-ups.
Option 2: A live event to be held in the fall
The event would be held in the morning at the Whitted Building, or another location, with a
breakfast and then sessions afterwards. The target date would be sometime after the Board’s
summer break.
Option 3: Combination of a live event in the fall with potential involvement of WCHL and
simulcast on the County’s government channel (1301)
The event would be held in the morning at the Whitted Building (or Southern Human Services
meeting room), with a breakfast and then sessions afterwards. The target date would be
sometime after the Board’s summer break.
The four topics below were initially developed for the one hour discussions under Option 1, or as
a “choose one” for the Option 2 live event. Pending the Board’s preference regarding Options 1,
2 or 3, the Board could choose to mix and match from among all four topics for the Summit.
• Branding, Arts and Recreational Activities as Economic Drivers – The Orange
County/Chapel Hill Visitors Bureau recently completed an assessment of the potential for
a multipurpose sports/recreation facility. In addition, Orange County already has existing
assets (Soccer.com complex in Mebane and the Mountains to the Sea Trail) that can be
tapped to create more recreation-related tourism revenue for the County.
• Agritourism and Local Agriculture – Orange County is home to many small specialty
farms that can attract visitors and create more economic output in the County through
more jobs (note the County hosts an Agriculture Summit each winter that addresses
many of these topics).
• Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Workforce Development and Job Creation – What
kind of jobs can we expect to bring to Orange County? UNC Hospitals and the
Hillsborough campus will create demand for more workers in the healthcare industry.
What is Durham Technical Community College doing to help meet this demand?
• Business/Industrial Recruitment or Other Hot Topic – In 2015, Orange County
Economic Development helped recruit Morinaga America Foods to a site in Mebane for
its first U.S. plant. In 2017, the County collaborated with the Town of Chapel Hill to recruit
a Wegman’s Supermarket to Chapel Hill. What is the County doing to continue to attract
new businesses and industries to the County?
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FINANCIAL IMPACT: The 2017-18 budget included an appropriation of $30,000 in Article 46
sales tax proceeds to host this event. If Option 2 or 3 is chosen, the $30,000 would be carried
over into the FY 2018-19 budget.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goal is applicable to
this item:
• GOAL: ENSURE ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY
The creation and preservation of infrastructure, policies, programs and funding necessary
for residents to provide shelter, food, clothing and medical care for themselves and their
dependents.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board:
1) approve and authorize staff to proceed with a framework option allowing staff time to plan
the event and to hire any outside consultants/planners needed; and
2) identify one or more of the topics from the four topics listed above to be discussed in
conjunction with the selected option.
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