Disappointment in Decision for Piedmont Processing Plant

[Lydia Coley]

Hello Orange County Commissioners.  As a community member and a supporter of small businesses, I am utterly disappointed.

Yesterday, a decision was made about the Piedmont Processing Plant, that is disturbing and contradictory to the values of Orange County. The decision was to extend the Processing Plant's contract by 1 more year based on this question: "Why should taxpayers support private businesses?" Now, 20+ small businesses (members of YOUR community) will be unhoused and could possibly lose their business if they cannot find another processing plant by 2024.

So if we go back to the question, "Why should taxpayers support private businesses". Well, taxpayer's money is going towards longevity. Did you know that small businesses generate 2/3 of new jobs in the US? That money is going back into the community. That money will generate jobs. That money will inspire other members in Orange County to start a small business and contribute to their community. Does Wegmans, Walmart, or Target inspire members in the community?

This decision is disturbing. It is disturbing because there is a mission to "support" small businesses, and yet, the commissioners of Orange County do not support that mission in practice. It is disturbing because you all are not seeing the small businesses as individual people of your community. Because if you did, you would realize that you are harming people's livelihood, their dreams, and their income. 

So instead of asking, "Why should taxpayers support private businesses?" You all should be asking yourselves, "Why are we willing to support corporations and not businesses from the community?"

I really hope that you all reconsider this decision and that next year the Piedmont Processing Plant is still being used by small businesses and it does not shut down. 

This conversation is not about money. It is about supporting your community.

Please reconsider and keep the Piedmont Processing Plant open for years to come. 

Thank you and you will be hearing from me again!

--

Kind regards,

Lydia

Lydia Coley

Instructional Designer/Curriculum Developer

[Jamezetta Bedford]

Ms Coley,

The Piedmont Food Processing Center is not closing. We have asked the manager to review ways to restructure the organization, do market analysis, do financial analysis, research how other jurisdictions structure the management, organization, operating and financial affairs of similar facilities and more. Then we can have a work session to see how we can improve this facility. Do we put out a pdf for a new operator? Do we revise the contract? and many many other options. 

I am the only commissioner who stated that I oppose subsidizing for profit business for longer than an incubation period. I also stated that I am an outlier. We all support $70K for LAUNCH to assist entrepreneurs/new businesses and a relatively new $72K small business position at Durham Tech Orange Co campus to help all businesses and recognize that the federal govt has a small business administration office close by in Durham. We also have programing and grants through the county department of economic development for businesses and farmers. I'm attaching my  position, though I may have paraphrased some of it last night vs reading it. 

We are spending over $300,000 average a year to run the facility. Over half of the users are from outside of Orange County. That was noted as a concern and several asked how can we better serve our Orange County residents especially farmers. Could there be pricing differentials for example? 

Thank you for being involved and supporting small businesses. It is quite true that they give back to local communities.  I'd be glad to discuss my concerns with you over coffee. 

Jamezetta Bedford, Chair

---

From: Lydia Coley <lydia....@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, October 4, 2023 12:56 PM
To: ALL_BOCC_MANAGER_CLERK
Subject: [EXTERNAL MAIL!] Disappointment in Decision for Piedmont Processing Plant