News-Record.com

Here's the latest agenda for the Jan. 17 Guilford County Commissioners meeting. There are a bunch of budget amendments in various departments, which often just get voted in one big action. Agenda .pdf file here.

There are a few interesting issues down the agenda, particularly on adopting a new economic development policy.

The commissioners are also expected to discuss the proposed guidelines in their annual retreat on Monday. That's significant because this is the same board that voted against giving tax incentives for an RF Micro expansion last year. The company decided to expand anyway.

We talked with Rob Bencini, the county's economic development director, about some highlights in the proposed plan:

-Emphasize high-paying jobs, such as those that pay within 90 percent of the average wage in the county, which he said is $17.12 an hour.

-New businesses should have a minimum healthcare match for its workers.

-Go after "green" businesses. Bencini said we could recruit ethanol and biodiesel companies to locate here, especially since there's a tank farm in the county.

There are several others, but we'll get into those once the commissioners have had a chance to digest the plan. But Bencini believes that the plan could be one of the most progressive set of guidelines around.

Could this be a new day for economic development policy? Will we see more discretion with handing out the money than we have before?

Are there any other items from the agenda that jump out at you? Let me know, and we'll be sure to check 'em out, too.