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RALEIGH- The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved 16 local government grant applications totaling $3,938,829, Governor Roy Cooper announced recently. The demands include commitments to create a total of 472 jobs, 137 of which were previously announced. Public investment in these projects will leverage over $67 million in private investment.
“Through these grants, we are able to attract new jobs to rural communities across the state,” Governor Cooper said. “These investments are generating more economic opportunity, renovated buildings, better access to health care, and strengthened water and sewer service, all of which improve the lives and livelihoods of rural residents.”
The team of rural economic development professionals from the North Carolina Department of Commerce supports the work of RIA. RIA members review and approve funding requests from local communities. Funding comes from a variety of specialized grant and loan programs offered and managed by NC Commerce’s Rural Economic Development Division, headed by Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic Development, Kenny Flowers. Grants can support a variety of activities, including infrastructure development, building renovations, expansions and demolitions, and site improvements.
“Employers are settling and growing in resilient rural North Carolina every day, demonstrating their commitment to strengthening our competitive economy,” said North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Machelle Baker Sanders. “These infrastructure grants allow us to welcome manufacturers and other businesses to our state, creating a mutually beneficial relationship between our local communities and a number of innovative businesses.”
The RIA approved 13 grant applications under the aegis of the state Building Reuse Program into three categories:
Vacant building category
- Town of Hudson (Caldwell County): A grant of $120,000 will support the reuse of a 53,560 square foot building in Hudson. The building will be occupied by Harmony Timberworks, a manufacturer of various high-end wood products. This project should create 15 jobs, with an investment of $145,000 by the company.
- Robeson County: A $500,000 grant will support the reuse of a 140,000 square foot building in Fairmont. The building will be occupied by Atlantic Building Components, a manufacturer of roof and floor trusses. The overall project is expected to create 105 jobs, with an investment of over $5.2 million from the company, while 84 jobs and an investment of $4,711,500 are tied to this grant.
- Duplin County: A $375,000 grant will support the reuse of a 245,000 square foot building in Warsaw. The building will be occupied by Warsawing Cabinets dba Design Mode Cabinetry. The company will design, manufacture and distribute entry-level and mid-range frameless cabinetry for single-family kitchens and multi-family developments. This project is expected to create 139 jobs and an overall investment of more than $13.5 million, including 53 jobs and an investment of $680,000 related to this grant.
- Forsyth County: A $300,000 grant will support the reuse of a 5,300 square foot building in Winston-Salem. The building will be occupied by Cathtek, a medical device development and manufacturing company. This project should create 60 jobs, with an investment of $1,629,375 by the company.
- Town of High Point (Guilford County): A $100,000 grant will support the reuse of a 36,950 square foot building in High Point. The building will be occupied by Metal Works of High Point. The company manufactures metal components, welds and assemblies. This project should create 20 jobs, with an investment of $2,719,000 by the company.
- Rutherford County: A $50,000 grant will support the reuse of a 36,689 square foot building in Ellenboro. The building will be occupied by CrossAir, a manufacturer of ventilation systems and air pollution control equipment. This project should create 7 jobs with an investment of $772,827 by the company.
- Transylvania County: A $30,000 grant will support the reuse of a 6,400 square foot building in Brevard. The building will be occupied by Survival Innovations. The company manufactures rescue and restraint systems for the aerospace industry and the United States Department of Defense. This project should create 11 jobs with an investment of $60,014 by the company.
Category Existing commercial building
- Town of Newton (Catawba County): A $70,000 grant will support the renovation of a 100,000 square foot building in Conover. The building is occupied by Pregis PolyMask, a manufacturer and supplier of innovative packaging and protective products used in the housing and consumer market. This project should create 10 jobs, with an investment of over $1.4 million by the company.
- Town of Tarboro (Edgecombe County): A $475,000 grant will support the renovation of a 238,798 square foot building in Tarboro that is occupied by LS Cable & System. The company develops, produces and supplies energy and telecommunications cables and systems, as well as engineering services and the installation and commissioning of high-voltage fixed lines. The project is expected to create 61 jobs, with an investment of $20,960,369 by the company.
- Gaston County: A grant of $250,000 will support the expansion of a 12,500 square foot building in Belmont. The building is occupied by DePalo Foods, a company that manufactures Italian foods for the retail sector. Their products include pizza dough, stromboli and calzones. The project is expected to create 40 jobs, with an investment of $2,020,479 by the company.
- Pitt County: A $75,000 grant will support a 3,800 square foot expansion of a building in Greenville occupied by North State Steel. The company specializes in the fabrication of structural steel in North Carolina and Virginia. The project is expected to create 11 jobs, with an investment of $893,145 by the company.
- Rutherford County: A $160,000 grant will support a 30,000 square foot building expansion in Spindale. The building is occupied by Fountain Electric Service, an electrical construction and service contractor. The project is expected to create 20 jobs, with an investment of $1,085,500 by the company.
Category Rural Health
- Town of Elkin (Surry County): A $150,000 grant will support the reuse of an 8,840 square foot vacant building in Elkin. At this location, Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital plans to establish a primary care facility with emergency care services. This project should create 15 jobs, with an investment of $3,767,375 by the hospital.
The Building Reuse Program provides grants to local governments to renovate vacant buildings, renovate and/or expand buildings occupied by existing North Carolina businesses, and renovate, expand or construct healthcare facilities that will lead to the creation of new jobs in Tier 1 and 1. 2 counties and in rural census tracts in Tier 3 counties.
The RIA approved three requests under the aegis of the state Industrial Development Fund – Utilities Account program:
- Burke County: A grant of $377,497 will help the county provide a sewer extension to Burke Business Park for a new 500,000 square foot facility operated by Unix Packaging, LLC, a beverage manufacturing company. The company plans to create at least 65 jobs and invest $25.95 million in the entire project.
- Town of Holly Ridge (Onslow County): A $730,000 grant will help the Town of Holly Ridge complete the second phase of development of the 160-acre Camp Davis Industrial Park. The project includes water and sewer infrastructure, as well as road access.
- Warren County: A grant of $176,332 will help the county expand its water supply system to serve Heritage Mulch Company. When completed, the 600-foot waterline extension will allow the business to grow and create jobs.
The Industrial Development Fund – Utilities Account provides grants to local governments located in the 80 most economically disadvantaged counties in the state, which are classified as either Tier 1 or Tier 2. Funds can be used for development projects. public infrastructure that can reasonably be expected to lead to the creation of new jobs. The IDF – Utility Account is funded through a process related to the state’s Employment Development Investment Grant (JDIG) program. When JDIG-rewarded businesses choose to locate or expand in a Tier 2 or Tier 3 county, a portion of that JDIG Reward is directed to the utility account.
In addition to reviewing and approving applications for funding, the NC Rural Infrastructure Authority formulates policies and priorities for the grant and loan programs administered by NC Commerce’s rural economic development team. Its 17 voting members are appointed by the Governor, Speaker of the House and President of the Senate Pro Tem. The North Carolina Secretary of Commerce is a member of the Authority, ex officio.
For more information about the Rural Economic Development Division, visit NCCommerce.com/rd.
