The N.C. Rural Infrastructure Authority has approved 31 grants totaling nearly $11 million for projects across the state, including projects in Pitt and Jones counties.
The grants are planned to create 565 jobs and generate $211 million in public and private investment, according to the governor’s office.
Different grants were awarded to counties and municipalities, including grants for vacant buildings, existing business buildings, as part of the industrial development fund for utilities, public infrastructure, public buildings and mixed-use downtown development, according to the N.C. Department of Commerce.
“The state’s Rural Infrastructure Authority sees North Carolina through a lens of opportunity,” said Gov. Roy Cooper. “All of our great state deserves the opportunity to thrive.
“These grants offer rural areas the resources and support they need to capitalize on their full potential.”
The Rural Infrastructure Authority is managed by N.C. Department of Commerce staff, which review and approve the funding requests.
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 Kenny Flowers, assistant secretary for rural development.
“These grants are vital to the overall prosperity of North Carolina and its people,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders. “We are particularly excited to recognize the first recipients of our new Rural Downtown Economic Development Grant program, which serves as yet another tool to support businesses and build stronger communities.”
The Rural Infrastructure Authority awarded a $100,000 existing business building grant to Pitt County that will be used for a 12,000-square-foot expansion of Falkland-based Atlantic Emergency Solutions, which is a provider of metal fabrication, paint, graphics, maintenance and warranty work on fire trucks and other emergency vehicles.
The company plans to create 10 jobs and invest $1.45 million in the project, according to the governor’s office. The grant is part of the state’s Building Reuse Program.
The authority also awarded a $87,500 mixed-use downtown development grant to the Jones County town of Maysville that will be used to support the Maysville Downtown Revitalization project, which involves the renovation and rehabilitation of four buildings for mixed-use development on Main Street.
The project is expected to bring in $1.3 million in investments.
The Rural Infrastructure Authority approved nine Building Reuse Program grants, including five totaling $1.64 million for vacant building projects in Forsyth, Rockingham and Pasquotank counties and the cities of Rocky Mount and Hickory; and $970,000 for four existing business building projects, including two in Gaston County, one in Pitt County and one in Fayetteville.
The Building Reuse Program provides grants to local government for the renovation of vacant buildings, the renovation or expansion of buildings used by North Carolina companies and for the renovation, expansion or construction of health care facilities that lead to new jobs.
Four grants of nearly $2.3 million were approved as part of the state’s Industrial Development Fund — Utility Account program.
The largest grant of nearly $1.58 million was awarded to Columbus County to help expand the roadway leading into the International Logistics Park. The N.C. Certified site is the first At-Port Distribution Park in North Carolina, which will create an investment of $74 million. The grants were also awarded to the town of Wadesboro, city of Greensboro and Halifax County.
Industrial Development Fund grants are provided to local governments located in the 80 most economically distressed counties of the state, which are classified as Tier 1 or Tier 2 counties, according to the governor’s office. The grants can be used for publicly owned infrastructure projects that are expected to lead to new jobs.
Eighteen grants were approved by the RIA under the state’s Rural Downtown Economic Development program in three categories that include public infrastructure, public buildings and mixed-use downtown development.
Public infrastructure grants were awarded to the municipalities of Morganton, Lenoir, Newton, Murphy, Old Fort, Carthage, Elizabeth City and Mount Airy.
Public building grants were awarded to Stokes County and the municipalities of Burlington, Hildebran, Valdese, Lumberton, Spencer and Laurinburg.
Mixed-use downtown development grants were awarded to Alexander County and the towns of Maysville and Roseboro.
