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The Board of Commissioners' initiative to build a sustainable community consists of many efforts. Among them are programs in the county organization and retrofits of county facilities to conserve energy and water. Other organization efforts include maximizing the prevalence or reusable products, minimizing the use of those that are disposable and purchasing products that contain recycled content when possible and feasible. The county's fleet of vehicles is much more fuel efficient and emits fewer emissions. Our current fleet includes 34 hybrid vehicles with an additional 9 on order. These measures conserve natural resources and tax dollars. The Board's sustainable community initiative also includes many outwardly- directed elements: One is a multifaceted approach to developing a more robust local food economy, including the appointment of 22 people to serve on the newly established Cabarrus County Food Policy Council, the hiring of a Local Food System Project Coordinator, the establishment of an incubator farm. Also, a community food assessment is being performed by North Carolina State University's Center for Environmental Farming Systems The local food initiative is funded through grants and from money reserved from the payment of deferred taxes on property removed from the present -use value system, providing a rational nexus between the program and its funding source. This period of economic contraction and hardship we are in offers additional opportunities to build upon what was already begun. In the absence of the immediate pressures resulting from growth and development, our local governments and businesses can collaborate to better position our community for a greener and more prosperous future, one that focuses on the triple bottom line (a healthy environment; a sound, financial position; and social equity), is more independent and enjoys some insulation from the volatility and whims of globalization. An opportunity is found in a newly formed Sustainability Council, initiated by Cabarrus County and housed at the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce. This effort provides a forum for business and government to share and collaborate along the path to realizing a positive triple bottom -line for the community we call home. The latest element of this initiative is the Board of Commissioner's recent creation of the Council for a Sustainable Local Economy. The Council is charged with performing research and analysis, educating the community, developing strategies and making policy recommendations that encourage the development of a resilient, robust and sustainable local economy in which entrepreneurs and creativity thrive and the community prospers. The CSLE is given discretion in fulfilling its charge; however, it is specifically directed to address the following: 1. To the extent possible, identify "leakage" in the local economy. That is, determine how much money is spent by local businesses, institutions, governments and residents purchasing goods and services from outside Cabarrus County that are available from businesses within Cabarrus County. Additionally, determine the impact, in terms of the number of jobs, of diverting some or all of that spending from outside the county to businesses inside the county. Visit the website of the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies ( http : / /www.livingeconomies.orq / ) for examples. 2. Identify barriers to success encountered by small businesses as a result of government policies and regulations. Conversely, identify government policies and regulations, existing or new those are helpful to small businesses. For examples, review efforts of the New Rules Project ( www.newrules.org ) and the many recommendations found in The Small -Mart Revolution. How Local Businesses are Beating the Global Competition by Michael H. Shuman. The county government will provide the Council with staff assistance, meeting space and other resources needed to perform its charge, Attachment number 1 1 -3 Page 126