AGENDA #8
to: Mayor and Town Council
from: Economic Development Committee
subject: Economic Development Strategy
date: June 25, 2008
The purpose of this item is to present the Economic Development Strategy developed by the Council Committee on Economic Development for consideration and adoption. This will serve as a guide for the Town Manager to direct the work of the Economic Development Officer and other Town staff in producing a work plan to facilitate the Town’s economic development efforts.
The Council Committee on Economic Development began meeting in July of 2007 to draft an Economic Development Strategy. The Committee subsequently met in August, October, and November of 2007, January, April and June of 2008. The Committee also held public comment sessions on a proposed draft strategy March 5, 6, and 11, 2008. All information reviewed by the Committee is available on the Town’s web site at http://www.townofchapelhill.org/economic_development .
After the public comments sessions in March, the Committee met in April to discuss the perspectives gained from the public comment sessions. The Committee made numerous recommendations and instructed staff to re-draft the Plan based on the public input. The revised version of the Strategy was presented to the Committee at a meeting in early June 2008.
The Council Committee on Economic Development recommends that Council Adopt [the attached resolution that adoptes] the Economic Development Strategy and instruct the Town Manager to proceed with the development of a work plan and budget to be presented to Council in September.