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Economic Development Advisory Board

Orange County · Economic Development Advisory Board
Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Advisory board meeting Appointments and personnelBudget and appropriationsContracts and procurementGrants and outside funding

Agenda document Minutes Watch Meeting recap

What was decided

  1. Approved 2Approval of Minutes Approved unanimously

Read from the agenda's recorded outcomes. Where the board published minutes, those are the record — this is a pointer to them.

What's on this agenda

Orange County's Economic Development Advisory Board takes up a grant program update on January 13, covering guideline changes and a vacant seat on the grant review committee. The board also hears from Scott Czechlewski, CEO of the Hillsborough Orange County Chamber of Commerce, and gets the director's report.

Summarized from the published agenda. Read the agenda itself before acting on it.

Meeting recap

What happened, drawn from the records published after the meeting. Minutes

The board changed its small business grant guidelines. Software counts as an eligible purchase under inventory and supplies; training, licensure and certificates do not. Every applicant must now hold a pre-application meeting with a county economic development staff member before applying. Members discussed asking employers who apply for a grant to strive to pay a living wage and the option of one larger award per fiscal year, without deciding either. A seat on the grant review committee remains vacant.

The chief executive of the Hillsborough Orange County Chamber of Commerce briefed the board on a rebrand, a new logo and website, and a strategic plan built around member visibility, an online directory and community events. He also described Carolina Health Works, launched in November to help small businesses with health care, which he said has drawn a cautious response so far. Upcoming work includes a diversity survey and a workforce study.

The director reported that the board's annual report and work plan were due January 16, and that several life sciences projects are looking for space in the Chapel Hill and Hillsborough area. The board endorsed a member for a second term ahead of her June 30 expiry, to be recommended to the county commissioners.

How the votes went

Two unanimous motions: approving the November 11 minutes (Gephart/Hill) and endorsing a member for a second term (Hill/Tyler).

From the published minutes.

Speaking at this meeting

Orange County's own rules for public comment — check them before you rely on anything here.

Agenda items (4)

Minutes approval · 1Presentation · 1Discussion item · 1Staff or committee report · 1
  1. 2 Approval of Minutes
    Minutes approval
    The November 11, 2025 minutes.
    Approved unanimously
  2. 3 Guest Speaker — Hillsborough Orange County Chamber of Commerce
    Presentation
    The chamber's chief executive described a rebrand with new logo, website and marketing materials, stronger ties with the towns, elected officials and the visitors bureau, and a strategic plan covering member visibility, an online digital guide and directory, and community events. He also described Carolina Health Works, a November launch aimed at small business health care needs, and upcoming work on a diversity survey and a workforce study.
  3. 4 Grant Program Update
    Discussion item Budget and appropriationsContracts and procurementGrants and outside funding
    Changes to the small business grant guidelines. The board decided software is an eligible use of funds under inventory and supplies but training, licensure and certificates are not. It discussed requiring applicants to strive to pay a living wage and allowing one larger award per fiscal year. All applicants must now hold a pre-application meeting with county economic development staff. A seat on the grant review committee remains vacant.
  4. 5 Director's Report
    Staff or committee report Appointments and personnel
    The annual report and work plan were due January 16, with board feedback requested by the day before. The board endorsed a member for a second term, to be recommended to the county commissioners. Several life sciences projects are looking for space in the Chapel Hill and Hillsborough area. Future meetings will make time for members to share their own work.

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