The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) approved 14 grants or loans on August 20, totaling nearly $4.6 million with the commitment of 330 new jobs.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)/loans approved include:
- Edgecombe County: A $500,000 loan to support Wada Farms’ reuse of a building vacant for four years. The company plans to create 25 jobs.
- City of Lumberton (Robeson County): A $495,041 grant to demolish two dilapidated industrial buildings constructed in 1928 and 1946. The buildings require abatement of lead-based paint and asbestos prior to demolition. Neither building generates property tax revenue. City officials plan to market the cleared properties for use as light industrial and warehouse operations.
The Industrial Development Fund Utility Account grants approved include:
- Onslow County: A grant of $1,243,875 to improve infrastructure and support the expansion of N.A. Burton Business & Industrial Park, opening more than 100 acres of quality industrial land for new development, job creation and economic investment.
- Town of Henderson (Vance County): A grant of $90,955 to extend city water service in support of an expansion by Jerry’s Artarama, creating 50 jobs.
Building Reuse Program grants/loans approved:
- City of Graham (Alamance County): $400,000 to support Peak of Graham, LLC, a family-owned nursing care facility that will construct 70,000 square feet of space and create 40 new jobs.
- Montgomery County: $200,000 to support Sandy Ridge Memory Care & Assisted Living’s 10,000 square-foot expansion with plans to create 20 new jobs.
- Beaufort County: $319,762 to support a 15,000 square-foot expansion by Oak Ridge Metal Works at its site in Washington, creating 32 new jobs.
- Burke County: $200,000 to support an expansion by SpartaCraft in Connelly Springs, creating 20 new jobs.
- Cherokee County: $86,250 to support TEAM Industries’ expansion of a building in Andrews. The grant supports a total investment of $576,813 being made at the property, creating 9 jobs.
- The Town of Mocksville (Davie County): $500,000 to support Avgol American’s expansion, creating 50 jobs.
- Town of Marshall (Madison County): $75,000 to support Buchi Tea’s reuse of a building in Marshall. Buchi Tea plans to create 6 jobs.
- Robeson County: $125,000 to support Smith’s Refrigeration’s reuse of a building located in Lumberton, creating 10 jobs.
Economic Infrastructure Projects approved:
- City of Washington (Beaufort County): A $100,000 grant for water and sewer infrastructure that will allow New Age Properties Group, LLC, to open an 87-room hotel in Washington, creating 20 jobs.
- City of Monroe (Union County): A $237,500 grant for water and sewer infrastructure to support an expansion by ATI Specialty Materials. The grant supports a total investment of $70,424,000 being made at the site, creating 48 jobs.
The RIA was established as part of the Rural Economic Development Division at the N.C. Department of Commerce to assist with the review and approval of grants for rural areas in the state. For more information on how your community can benefit from these funds, visit our website at nccommerce.com/rd.