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Center: Projects to revamp buildings add jobs. Other funds go to clean water efforts in Mitchell, Rutherford counties and business development in Maggie Valley.
Press release from the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center, shared April 20:
RALEIGH — The N.C. Rural Economic Development Center has awarded 53 grants totaling $8.6 million to create jobs, provide clean water and assist with economic development in rural counties. The grants will create 894 jobs and aid projects in 31 counties.
The center’s board of directors approved the grants April 18. The grants were made possible by appropriations of the N.C. General Assembly and state Clean Water Bonds.
JOB CREATION
The board awarded 36 grants worth $6.7 million for projects that directly lead to job creation. Economic infrastructure grants enable new business locations or expansions through water and sewer improvements, broadband expansion, natural gas line extensions, construction of access roads and other infrastructure improvements. Building reuse grants prepare vacant buildings for use by job-generating businesses and support the expansion and renovation of occupied buildings if that work leads to new, permanent jobs in the manufacturing sector.
Economic infrastructure
Town of Clayton, $169,398 in two grants to build an access road and make water system improvements for an expanding recycling company. The projects will create 30 jobs in the Johnston County town.
Town of Clinton, $885,000 for water system improvements for an expanding food processing company. The project will create 89 jobs in the Sampson County town.
Davie County, $750,100 for sewer system improvements for a new manufacturing company. The project will create 76 jobs.
Davie County, $500,000 for sewer improvements for a new hospital. This award is in addition to a $500,000 grant the project received in 2007. The latest award will create an additional 50 jobs.
Hertford County, $200,000 to build a rail spur for an expanding steel company. The project will create 40 jobs.
City of Locust, $7,500 in two grants for water and sewer improvements and an access road for a medical office. These awards are in addition to $150,188 in grants the Stanly County project received in February.
Town of Plymouth, $55,000 to build an access road for a renewable energy company. The project will create 12 jobs in the Washington County town.
Surry County, $500,000 for sewer improvements to assist multiple companies. This award is in addition to a $500,000 grant the project received in 2008. The latest award will create an additional 50 jobs.
Town of Troy, $87,500 for water and sewer improvements for an expanding food processing company. The project will create nine jobs in the Montgomery County town.
Vance County, $32,038 for water system improvements to an expanding refrigeration company. The project will create four jobs.
Town of Wadesboro, $20,000 for water and sewer improvements for an expanding poultry company. The project will create two jobs in the Anson County town.
Building reuse
Town of Ahoskie, $160,000 to renovate a vacant building for use by a restaurant. The project will create 20 jobs in the Hertford County town.
Cleveland County, $285,000 to support the renovation of a building used by a valve manufacturer. The renovation will allow the company to expand its production. The project will create 57 jobs.
Cleveland County, $50,000 to support the renovation of a building used by a fiberglass company. The renovation will allow the company to expand its manufacturing operations. The project will create 10 jobs.
Dare County, $249,152 to renovate a vacant building for use by a boat manufacturer. The project will create 31 jobs.
City of Dunn, $32,000 to renovate a vacant building for use by a restaurant. The project will create four jobs in the Harnett County town.
Town of Franklinton, $40,000 to renovate a vacant building for use by a restaurant. The project will create five jobs in the Franklin County town.
Town of Granite Falls, $132,000 to renovate a vacant building for use by a company that manufactures industrial lubricant. The project will create 11 jobs in the Caldwell County town.
Haywood County, $175,000 to support the renovation of a building used by a plastics company. The renovation will allow the company to expand its operations. The project will create 35 jobs.
Hertford County, $265,100 to renovate a building for use by a manufacturer of automotive heating and air conditioning systems. The project will create 23 jobs.
City of Lenoir, $30,000 to support the renovation of a building used by a manufacturer of window-covering components. The renovation will allow the company to expand its operations. The project will create six jobs in the Caldwell County town.
Mitchell County, $250,000 to support the renovation of a building used by a manufacturer of recreational vehicles. The renovation will allow the company to expand its operations. The project will create 52 jobs.
Town of North Wilkesboro, $72,000 to renovate a vacant building for use by a graphics company. The project will create six jobs in the Wilkes County town.
Town of Roseboro, $48,000 to renovate a vacant building for use by a restaurant. The project will create six jobs in the Sampson County town.
Rutherford County, $310,000 to support the renovation of a building used by a telephone-service company. The renovation will allow the company to expand its operations. The project will create 62 jobs.
Rutherford County, $256,000 to renovate a vacant building for use by a commercial laundry. The project will create 22 jobs.
Town of Siler City, $182,125 to renovate a building used by a furniture manufacturer. The renovation will create additional manufacturing space. The project will create 37 jobs in the Chatham County town.
Swain County, $184,000 to renovate a vacant building for use by a home manufacturer. The project will create 23 jobs.
Town of Troy, $149,850 to renovate a vacant building for use by a food company. This grant is an increase to a previous award, bringing the total grant amount to $480,000. The project will create a total of 40 jobs in the Montgomery County town.
Vance County, $64,000 to renovate a vacant building for use by two businesses, a building manufacturer and a vehicle refurbishing company. The project will create eight jobs.
Town of Wadesboro, $96,000 to renovate a vacant building for use by a wholesale lawn and garden supplier. The project will create 12 jobs in the Anson County town.
City of Washington, $410,000 to renovate a building used by a valve manufacturing company. The renovation will allow the company to expand its operations. The project will create 82 jobs in the Beaufort County town.
Town of Waynesville, $50,000 to renovate a vacant building for use by a company that repairs barcode scanners. The project will create five jobs in the Haywood County town.
Town of Weldon, $32,350 to renovate a vacant building for use by a manufacturer of fiberglass pools. The project will create three jobs in the Halifax County town.
NC STEP
The board also voted to accept 11 towns into the center’s North Carolina Small Towns Economic Prosperity Program. Joining the program later this year will be the towns of Murphy in Cherokee County, Spring Hope in Nash County, Liberty in Randolph County, St. Pauls in Robeson County, Madison and Mayodan in Rockingham County, Rutherfordton in Rutherford County, Roseboro and Garland in Sampson County, Fremont in Wayne County and North Wilkesboro in Wilkes County. The new towns will be eligible for planning and implementation grants of up to $125,000. Including these newcomers, 67 communities have joined NC STEP since its origin.
CLEAN WATER
These grants seek to ensure a clean, abundant supply of drinking water and the safe treatment and disposal of wastewater. The grants also help rural governments plan for water and sewer improvements.
Alleghany County, $384,000 for a new wastewater system to serve Piney Creek Elementary School.
Town of Bakersville, $300,000 for a system to remove iron and manganese from municipal water and for improvements to a well. Bakersville is in Mitchell County.
Town of Lake Lure, $10,500 to develop a plan to extend the life of the water and sewer systems in the Rutherford County town.
City of Roanoke Rapids, $67,500 for a camera system to inspect, maintain and map storm drains in the Halifax County town.
City of Sanford, $50,000 for the extension of water lines to a portion of the Lee County town where only substandard well water is available.
RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION
This grant program supports innovative research and demonstration projects that address rural economic development issues.
Construction Professionals Network Institute, up to $185,000 to help communities evaluate vacant and underutilized buildings and to develop strategies for financing reuse and redevelopment. The Development Finance Institute of the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Government and the Rural Center will collaborate with the construction professionals group on the project.
SUPPLEMENTAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
This program funds worthy projects that might otherwise be outside the timeline or geographic area of a specific grant program.
The Town of Maggie Valley, $20,000 to develop strategies that will unite the town’s business community and create marketing plans that will lead to more year-round business activity in the Haywood County town.
The N.C. Rural Economic Development Center is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to develop sound economic strategies that improve the quality of life in rural North Carolina, with a special focus on individuals with low to moderate incomes and communities with limited resources. The center operates a multifaceted program that includes conducting research into rural issues; testing promising rural development strategies; advocating for policy and program innovations; and building the productive capacity of rural leaders, entrepreneurs and community organizations.
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