Orange County Economic Development unveils new website

Orange County Economic Development launched its redesigned website—www.growinorangenc.com—offering a glimpse into the county’s renewed focus on economic development. The website is part of a strategic effort by the department to increase awareness of Orange County as a business location and provide the key types of information needed by businesses and site selection firms looking to expand or locate a business.
The website provides up-to-date information on the county’s three economic development districts targeted for commercial and industrial growth. The redesign also provides tools to allow users to search for available buildings and sites as well as current demographic data including labor force, wages, training availability and information on Orange County’s quality of place. With workforce skills and location being prime factors in the business site search process, the website showcases Orange County’s position along major transportation corridors and its proximity to several renowned research universities. Prospective investors can identify Orange County’s core positioning within the Research Triangle Region and the Research Triangle Park.
While www.growinorangenc.com officially launched the week of Jan. 30, the site will continue to grow and evolve. Future developments will include an interactive property search feature, videos showcasing local businesses and highlighting those economic development activities that will be funded by the quarter-cent sales tax recently approved by voters.
“Today’s business site selection process is more competitive than ever,” Steve Brantley, county economic development director, said. “The search increasingly begins on the Internet and includes much more than just looking at available properties; those involved in today’s business site searches are looking for a glimpse into the community—from demographics and work force availability to educational and cultural opportunities in the area. This website was developed to showcase the assets Orange County can offer as a prime business location.”

1/4-cent sales tax revisited

The county commissioners are again considering whether to put a 1/4-cent sales tax referendum on the November ballot. We've got a poll up at www.newsoforange.com that asks: Do you think the county should include a potential 1/4-cent sales tax increase on the November ballot?

Let us know in the comments, and then head on over to newsoforange.com to vote!

Then, you can let county commissioners hear your opinions:

The Orange County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, March 15, during its regularly scheduled meeting at the Southern Human Services Center, located at 2501 Homestead Road in Chapel Hill. The meeting starts at 7 p.m.
The public hearing will provide an opportunity for the public to comment on a potential Nov. 8, 2011, referendum on a one-quarter cent additional sales tax in Orange County.
During the 2007 legislative session, the North Carolina General Assembly granted county boards of commissioners the authority to levy, subject to voter approval, an additional one-quarter cent county sales and use tax.
It is projected the one-quarter cent county sales and use tax would generate approximately $2.5 million for Orange County on an annual basis. 
If the voters approved the referendum on Nov. 8, 2011, implementation would not start until April 1, 2012, generating approximately $625,000 for the remainder of FY 2011-12.

...and now, for something completely different

Well, I hope you like this week's paper; I have to say, I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out. Robin did a really great job designing the front, and there's a nice mix of stories on there.

Expect your paper to look different in the coming weeks than it has in the past. We've got some interesting ideas for some new elements and the placement of old elements. We hope you like what we have in store.

About the Web:  Apparently, the password is different now than the one I have saved in my computer, so please bear with me as I try to figure it out.

In a little bit, I'll have a recap on Monday's Board of Education meeting up here.

changes

I just wanted to alert everyone to a few changes I've made to the blog. There are some local links at the side now. If you know of a link we should add, let me know! Drop us a line or a comment.

Happy New Year, everyone!

web updates

Sorry the Web update is taking so long. Normally that's Josh's domain, but he's a little under the weather, so I'm taking a stab at it.

Hopefully, it won't be too much longer, now.

In the meantime, I'm about to post the .pdf of the front.