HomeMy WebLinkAboutNovember 12, 2024 Minutes Approved ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY BOARD
November 12, 2024
Blue Hill Event Center- Executive Boardroom
200 South Elliot Road
Chapel Hill, NC
Minutes
Members Present: Lisa Kaylie, Estella Johnson, John Kim, Tom Proctor, Kristen Young, Elise Tyler, Joy
Mercer, Emilee Collins
Members Not Present: Jane Saiers, Hasan Abdullah
Orange County Staff: Steve Brantley, Amanda Garner, Lindsey Hirni
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Kristen Young at 11:35 a.m.
Approval of Minutes
A motion was made by Tom Proctor and seconded by Emilee Collins to approve the Minutes from the
September 10,2024 meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
New Business
Our host, Lisa Kaylie, introduced herself as the executive director of The Blue Hill Event Center and
explained what services and businesses they work with and support. She spoke about employment
opportunities for both IDD adults (Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) and support staff.
Lindsey Hirni provided the 2025 calendar dates and requested any suggestions from members for
meeting locations in Carrboro and Chapel Hill.
Lindsey informed the board members that the Annual Report and Work Plan will need to be completed
and submitted to the Clerk by January 17, 2025. Amanda Garner reminded the board that the Chair will
present the Annual Report and Work Plan to the BOCC in early 2025.
John Kim asked about the collaboration relationship our advisory board has with the Visitor Bureau's
board: (One (1) member of the Economic Development Advisory Board, who serves as the representative
of the hotel/hospitality sector seat, also sits as a liaison on the Orange County Visitors Bureau's advisory
board. Steve Brantley said we are still needing a board member to volunteer to also sit both the Visitor's
Bureau's advisory board.
Amanda gave an update on the revised grant guidelines for both the Business and Ag Investment grant
programs. She mentioned that our department has been tasked to report on the number of jobs and sales
generated from these grant recipients for the County's Strategic Plan. John Kim asked what the Living
Wage was and both Tom and Lisa agreed that flexibility for part-time workers should be considered in the
grant program guidelines.
Amanda also informed the committee about the"change of use"form if a grant recipient can't use the
funds for their original project as well as the one-year additional expenditure report that will be required
moving forward. Lisa asked about how we are reaching out to our minority small businesses and both
Amanda and Steve explained that The Chamber has partnered with the County and Towns of Chapel Hill
and Carrboro to hire a Business Success Navigator who will be focusing on this exact goal of helping
minority business owners find the resources they need to be successful.
Old Business
Amanda explained that the objectives in the Vibrant& Diverse Economic section in the County's Strategic
Plan has been revised and will be presented with our proposed performance measures to the
Commissioners in early 2025. The performance measures are 1. "Expand the non-residential tax base by
increasing the assessed value of real and personal property in areas of the county most feasible for
industrial and commercial development by 20% over the five-year period ending June 2029. 2. 80% of
Business Investment Grant recipients are still in business one year after receiving the grant and 95% of
Agricultural Economic Development Grant Program recipients farms are still in operation one year after
receiving the grant.
Amanda mentioned our Economic Development Strategic Plan RFP Process. We received 11 proposals
and Joy Mercer has been helping review all of those. The next step is interviewing the top 3 firms the
week of November 191" and then we will move forward with the final firm by December 4th. The goal will
be to launch and start engaging with the committee in early January.
Director's Report:
Steve provided an update on the commercial and industrial projects and international leads.
Adjournment
Kristen Young adjourned the meeting at 12:40 PM