North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority Approves Nearly $4 Million in Funding


The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) approved 14 grants or loans on October 22, totaling $3,828,262. The requests include commitments to create a total of 272 new jobs.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)/loan approved:

  • Town of Denton (Davidson County): A $400,000 loan to support the reuse of a vacant building that will house Lionshead Specialty Tire and Wheel. The company, a manufacturer of specialty tires, will create 20 jobs. The building has been vacant for the past year. The grant is part of a total capital investment of $1,900,000.

The Industrial Development Fund Utility Account grants approved include:

  • Richmond County: A $1,000,000 grant to assist with upgrades to a water treatment plant facilitating a 30-job expansion at Perdue Farms, the county’s largest employer. The additional capacity is expected to preserve existing jobs and facilitate continued growth.
  • Town of Forest City (Rutherford County): A $148,900 grant to extend the city’s water line approximately 1,000 feet to serve a new building on the Facebook campus, where water is used in cooling systems. The additional capacity will help preserve the 100 existing positions at the social media company and create another 10 jobs over the coming two years.
  • Town of Elkin (Surry County): An amendment to add $148,259 to an existing $500,000 grant made in 2013 to help pay for pumping station improvements to benefit Pittsburg Glass Works (PGW). Bids for this project have exceeded the previously allocated grant. PGW, a manufacturer of automotive glass, employs 150 workers at the site.

Building Reuse Program grants/loans approved:

  • Town of Longview (Catawba County): A $500,000 grant to support the renovation of three existing buildings that will facilitate a 50-job expansion at Century Furniture, LLC.
  • Madison County: A $260,000 grant to support an addition to a building in Hot Springs that will facilitate a 26-job expansion by Punker, LLC.
  • Sampson County: A $110,000 grant to support the renovation of two existing buildings in Clinton that will facilitate an 11-job expansion by Brooks Brothers.
  • Town of Mocksville (Davie County): A $500,000 grant to support the reuse of a vacant building for use by AccuMED Corp., which will create 40 jobs.
  • Duplin County: A $63,603 grant to support the reuse of a vacant building in Warsaw that will facilitate a seven-job expansion by Villari Brothers Trucking, Inc.
  • Hyde County: A $60,000 grant to support the reuse of a vacant building in Swan Quarter for use by Dare to Hyde, LLC. The outdoor adventure and hospitality company will create six jobs.
  • Town of Smithfield (Johnston County): A $175,000 grant to support the reuse of a vacant building that will facilitate a 35-job expansion by Atlantic Resources Inc.
  • Pitt County: A $250,000 grant to support the reuse of a vacant building in Farmville that will house D.R. Burton Healthcare Products, LLC. The company, which manufactures respiratory, anesthesia and operating room products, will create 20 jobs.
  • City of Salisbury (Rowan County): A $162,500 grant to support the reuse of a vacant building that will facilitate a 13-job expansion by Morgan Ridge Vineyards.
  • North Wilkesboro (Wilkes County): A $50,000 grant to support the reuse of a vacant building that will facilitate a four-job expansion by Carolina Heritage Cabinetry.