Orange County will host a series of community meetings to receive feedback from residents and business owners about the county’s Strategic Plan initiative. Orange County staff will be available at each meeting to answer questions.
The fast-paced, interactive sessions will feature large and small group discussions. Facilitators will guide participants through the process and ensure that each person has a chance to voice their thoughts.
“The focus of the forum is to gain community input for the Board and leadership to use to develop Orange County’s strategic plan,” said Orange County Manager Bonnie Hammersley.
Participants will be asked to consider how Orange County should look five years from now and brainstorm to define priorities and strategies to achieve that vision. Each group will then report out to the larger group.
Information from each forum will be compiled and presented to the Board during a work session in the fall. The Board will use this information and their own deliberations to develop a vision for the county and identify strategic priorities and goals.
During the Board of Commissioners’ 2022 Retreat, the Board authorized staff to create a comprehensive Five-Year Strategic Plan for Orange County to lay out the priorities that will guide policies and budget decisions from 2024 through 2028.
BerryDunn, a consultant with nationwide experience in local government strategic planning, was chosen to lead the process after a formal request for proposals process in fall 2022. In addition to the upcoming public meetings, they have created a website for the public to learn more, fill out a survey identifying their priorities and provide input (berrydunn.mysocialpinpoint.com/orangecounty).
The county will offer a virtual option for each meeting for residents who are unable to attend in person. Sessions are open to everyone and will be held as follows:
- June 21 from 6:00-7:30 PM - Solid Waste Administration Building - 1207 Eubanks Road Chapel Hill, NC 27516
- June 22 from 9:00 – 10:30 AM - Whitted Meeting Room - 300 W. Tryon St., Room 240 Hillsborough, NC 27278
- June 23 from 1:00-2:30 PM - Cedar Grove Community Center - 5800 NC Highway 86 N Hillsborough, NC 27278