Rural Building Reuse Program

The Building Reuse Program provides grants to local governments to assist with building improvements to real property, that will lead to the direct creation of new, full-time, private sector jobs. The program requires a cash match equal to the grant request amount.

Funding Categories:

• Vacant Building: Grants are available to support the renovation and/or upfit of vacant buildings. Buildings must be vacant for at least three months prior to application deadlines. Eligible costs include, but are not limited to, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, roofing, carpentry, drywall, paint, etc. within the existing footprint of the building.
• Existing Business Building: Grants are available to support the renovation or expansion of buildings where the expanding company has occupied the prospect building for at least 12 months. Companies must also meet the county weekly wage standard and provide at least 50% employer paid health benefits to employees.
• Rural Health Care: Grants are available to support the renovation, expansion, or construction of health care facilities. The health care entity must be licensed by the State of North Carolina and may include, but are not limited to, hospitals, urgent care centers, hospice centers, elder care facilities and offices for physicians, dentist, vision care specialist, and mental health care providers.

Eligible Applicants:

Eligible applicants are units of local government located in Tier 1 or Tier 2 counties, or within a rural census tract in a Tier 3 county. As prescribed in N.C.G.S. 143B-472.127(a)(2), a rural census tract is an area having a population density of less than 500 people per square mile in accordance with the most recent decennial federal census. Tier ranking information can be found here on the NC Department of Commerce website. 

Funding Availability: 

The potential funding available for each project will be assessed through analysis of the project and will be based upon the project's location, the quantity and quality of jobs committed, and the overall economic impact of the project, at the discretion of the Rural Infrastructure Authority.

The grant award will never exceed one-half of the renovation and/or construction cost. The program requires a dollar-for-dollar cash match equivalent to the grant request amount. The program includes claw-back provisions requiring repayment of the grant if the jobs committed are not created and/or maintained for six consecutive months during the two-year grant period.

Awards are made by the Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA). This body meets six times per year to award projects. Meeting dates and application deadlines can be found here.

For application materials, click here.

Contact Information:

Hazel Edmond, Director
Rural Engagement & Investment
Rural Economic Development Division
984-297-5082 (Mobile)
hazel.edmond@commerce.nc.gov