HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 05-07-24; 8-f - Resolution Supporting the America 250 NC Program and Committee 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: May 7, 2024
Action Agenda
Item No. 8-f
SUBJECT: Resolution Supporting the America 250 NC Program and Committee
DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks
and Recreation (DEAPR)
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Resolution Peter Sandbeck, 245-2517
PURPOSE: To approve a resolution supporting the America 250 NC program, thereby allowing
Orange County's America 250 NC Committee to commence work.
BACKGROUND: The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NCDNCR)
is leading the statewide effort to plan for the commemoration of America's 250th anniversary, with
a goal of energizing and promoting robust, comprehensive, and inclusive programs across the
entire state. These programs will commemorate the 250th with wide-ranging activities across a
multi-year commemoration beginning in 2024, with a focus on 2026. Additional events will
continue through 2033. Programs and events will be developed around two broad concepts:
• Revolutionary NC— to explore the historical events of the Revolution in NC; and
• When Are We Us — to explore the ideas of freedom, civic responsibility, overcoming
challenges, and change as we lean into the ideals of democracy.
Programs and projects will also highlight pivotal events in history, such the Civil Rights movement,
Women's Suffrage and major scientific, agricultural and industrial developments.
NCDNCR is asking each county to form an official America 250 NC county committee, to consist
of individuals who are dedicated to planning and organizing events, projects, and initiatives at the
grassroots level. An initial working group has been established to serve as the start-up Orange
County Committee. With approval of the attached resolution, this core group will begin working
as the central body coordinating the local America 250 NC commemoration activities, working
closely with the NC America 250 team at NCDNCR. The core group will reach out across the
County to enlist additional members, to include diverse perspectives and voices from a variety of
sectors across the County, and including local governments, cultural heritage institutions, non-
profits, tourism departments, libraries, schools and colleges, genealogical groups, and civic
organizations. The Committee will serve as the driving force behind Orange County's
commemoration of the State's long history of independent thought and achievement.
The activities of Orange County's America 250 NC committee will be coordinated by the Chapel
Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau and the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough. Approval of the
2
resolution will make the committee eligible to apply to NCDNCR for grants to help fund a wide
array of commemorative programs and activities, such as public programs, scholarly research,
tourism projects, and educational outreach.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with approval of the resolution.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: There is no Orange County Social Justice Goal associated with this
item.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: There is no Orange County Environmental Responsibility Goal
impact associated with this item.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve and authorize the
Chair to sign the resolution supporting the America 250 NC program and the Orange County
Committee.
3
RES-2024-025
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Resolution Recognizing and Endorsing
Orange County's Official America 250 NC Committee
A resolution of Orange County, North Carolina supporting the America 250 NC
Committee for the United States Semiquincentennial(AMERICA 250 NC).
WHEREAS, Roy Cooper, Governor of North Carolina, created AMERICA 250 NC to plan,
encourage, develop, and coordinate the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United
States and North Carolina's integral role in that event and the role of its people on the nation's
past, present, and future; and
WHEREAS, AMERICA 250 NC has a mission to engage ALL North Carolinians and ALL 100
counties through their many signatures and officially recognized programs, projects, and events
over the commemoration by inspiring future leaders and celebrating North Carolina's
contributions to the nation over the last 250 years; and
WHEREAS, by adoption of America 250 NC's mission by this resolution, the Orange County
Committee is officially authorized to begin working to achieve the goals of America 250 NC
Program;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Orange County Board of County
Commissioners hereby endorses AMERICA 250 NC and its mission;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners endorses the
establishment of an AMERICA 250 NC Committee for Orange County,to be made up of a diverse
group of residents to work with AMERICA 250 NC on any and all activities,with the participants
of the Orange County Committee serving in strictly voluntary roles and with there being no
compensation for participation; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Orange County
legislative delegation and the AMERICA 250 NC Committee.
ADOPTED this 7th day of May, 2024.
Jamezetta Bedford, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners