South Raleigh News

The Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved eight grant requests to local governments totaling $1,650,000, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The requests include commitments to create a total of 297 jobs, 56 of which were previously announced. The public investment in these projects will attract more than $234 million in public and private investment.

“These grants continue to help create great jobs in our rural communities,” Governor Roy Cooper said. “We are building a strong foundation upon which North Carolina’s rural economy can thrive.”

The RIA is supported by the rural economic development team at the North Carolina Department of Commerce. 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 N.C. Commerce’s Rural Economic Development Division, led by Assistant Secretary for Rural Development Kenny Flowers. Grants support various activities, including infrastructure development, building renovation, expansion and demolition, and site improvements.

“We are proud to partner with North Carolina communities to make these investments, which support a wide range of industries, from manufacturing to health services,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders. “This ongoing work is a fitting tribute to the late Andrea Harris, a former RIA member, whom we remember during the observance of Leaders in Equitable Economic Development Month for her work to promote rural prosperity and diverse businesses.”

The RIA approved eight grant requests under the state’s Building Reuse Program in three categories:

Vacant Building Category

City of Lenoir (Caldwell County): A $140,000 grant will support the reuse of a 13,000-square-foot building in Lenoir where Nutrameltz plans to locate. The project is expected to create 18 jobs with a private investment of $2,236,626 tied to this grant.

City of High Point (Guilford County): A $200,000 grant will support the reuse of a 108,000-square-foot building in High Point that will be occupied by C&C Industries. The project is set to create 24 jobs with a private investment of $5,875,967 tied to this grant.

Existing Business Building Category

City of Mebane (Alamance County): A $145,000 grant will support the renovation of a 167,000-square-foot building in Mebane occupied by Sandvik Coromant. The company expects to create 18 jobs and invest $1,295,207 in this project.

Burke County: A $175,000 grant will support the renovation of a 92,500-square-foot building in Hildebran occupied by Miller Knoll. With this expansion project creating 47 jobs and an investment worth $354,000.

Town of Aberdeen (Moore County): A $160,000 grant will support the renovation of a 35-000 square foot building occupied by Reliance Packaging LLC; creating thirty-two new jobs alongside an accompanying private investment worth seven million four hundred fifty-nine thousand eight hundred ninety-one dollars.

Robeson County: A five-hundred-thousand-dollar ($500K) monetary aid aimed towards expanding ten thousand square feet within Maxton’s Campbell Soup Company location resulting into one hundred twenty-four fresh job opportunities whilst facilitating further injection equivalent-to one hundred eighty-one million seven hundred fifty thousand dollars’ worth resources being poured back privately.

Rural Health Building Category

Brunswick County: Two-hundred-fifty-thousand-dollar ($250K) fund dedicated toward repurposing seventy-three thousand sq.ft located at Supply hosting Medaci Wellness Institute Transformation anticipated yielding twenty-five employment opportunities via thirty-five-million-dollar contribution privately sourced

Robeson County: Eighty-thousand-dollar ($80K) fund channeled into transforming three-thousand six-hundred five sq.ft situated Rowland earmarked becoming Hope Health Family Practice LLC generating nine job openings thanks half-a-million dollar ($460K) pledged capital infusion

The Building Reuse Program provides grants for renovating vacant buildings or expanding existing facilities occupied by North Carolina companies or healthcare institutions within Tier One & Two counties plus select tracts classified under Tier Three criteria ensuring resultant creation additional employment opportunities throughout these designated regions.