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<br />Inventory and review existing business and industrial parks and properties in <br />the County in relation to these needs and standards of contemporary <br />economic development. Recommend ways in which these existing sites can <br />be improved and marketed effectively. <br /> <br />Review the status of the closed Pillowtex plants and other vacant factory <br />buildings in the County; assess impediments to and potential opportunities <br />for their reuse; and identify examples of such reuse in other communities. <br /> <br />Identify and recommend potential new business and industrial parks and <br />sites and implementation requirements, including rezoning needs, access <br />improvements, and utility services. <br /> <br />Review existing County and municipal land use plans, regulations, and <br />development standards in relation to future land needs and developability of <br />existing and potential business and industrial areas and sites; assess and <br />recommend changes to these plans, regulations, and standards as may be <br />needed to facilitate development. <br /> <br />E. Entrepreneurial Development Opportunities Analysis and Strategy <br /> <br />The purpose of this task is to identify opportunities to stimulate startup and growth of home- <br />grown businesses and industries in Cabarrus, including opportunities for former Pillowtex <br />employees having particular skill sets, and needs for and potential sources of training and <br />funding support for small business development. Specific activities to be undertaken are as <br />follows: <br /> <br />Review existing programs of retraining that are underway in the County and <br />determine the types of jobs the retrained workers can accommodate. <br /> <br />Analyze the "Economic Gardening" activities on-going in the nation presently <br />and recommend appropriate strategies for Cabarrrus County to consider. <br /> <br />Review the small business assistance programs of the County and <br />determine if new strategies will enhance entrepreneurial development within <br />the sector. <br /> <br />F. Marketing Strategy and Plan <br /> <br />Purposes of this task are to identify marketing needs and approaches for both business and <br />industrial development and tourism, including recommendations for establishing and <br />financing local marketing activities. Specific activities to be undertaken are as follows: <br /> <br />Evaluate existing local economic development marketing activities, including <br />responsibilities, media utilized, messages conveyed, and current budget. <br /> <br />Identify needs and approaches to increase external awareness of economic <br />development resources and opportunities in the County and local awareness <br />of the importance of economic development, including potential need for <br />branding, actions relative to the use of print and electronic media, need for <br />and orientation of collateral materials, direct marketing to business and <br />industry, and development of relationships with state, regional, and industry <br /> <br />4 <br />~ <br />