North Carolina Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker and Assistant Secretary for Rural Development Dr. Pat Mitchell announced today that the N.C. Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) approved 13 grants or loans totaling more than $5.1 million with the commitment of 299 new 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. The grants-making programs of the division include assistance for building reuse and well as infrastructure including water and sewer.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) loans approved:
· Davidson County: $400,000 to lend to Surface Source USA to support the reuse of a 40,000 square foot industrial building located at 425 New Jersey Church Road. The building was originally constructed in 1973 and has been vacant for the past five years. Surface Source USA will invest $1.5 million in renovating and equipping the building as a production and distribution facility for imported wood flooring products. The company has customers in both the US and Canada. Surface Source USA has committed to create 20 new, full-time jobs.
· Lincoln County: $500,000 to lend to Carolina Nonwovens LLC to support the reuse of a vacant 120,000 square foot industrial building located on North General Blvd. in Lincolnton. The building has been vacant for over three years. Carolina Nonwovens will invest over $7 million in renovating and purchasing new equipment for the building. Carolina Nonwovens is a subsidiary of National Spinning and will manufacture nonwoven textile products used as dampening material in automobiles and appliances as well as cushions for outdoor furniture. The company currently has 38 employees and has committed to creating 25 new, full-time jobs.
The CDBG is a U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program that provides an annual allocation of funds to the state for rural economic development and residential infrastructure projects. DENR administers the rural residential infrastructure program and the N.C. Department of Commerce administers the economic development program. CDBG economic development provides grants to local governments for creating and retaining jobs. Funding for projects is based on the number of jobs to be created and the level of distress in the community applying for the funds.
The Industrial Development Fund Utility Account grants approved:
· Stanly County: $500,000 to assist with sewer improvements to serve the Airport Road business corridor in Albemarle. The proposed improvements include upgrading pump stations and the installation of a sanitary sewer force main.
The county is investing over $620,000 in the cost of the infrastructure.
· Town of Tarboro (Edgecombe County): $750,000 to assist with the purchase of a generator to provide direct assistance to General Foam Plastics during peak load periods, allowing the company to avoid the choice of either shutting down its line during these periods or paying a cost that is more than 3,000% the normal hourly rate charge. The project would also provide the town with the ability to fully serve other customers in the area during peak periods. The company will contribute $300,000 towards the cost of the generator and invest almost $2.3 million in machinery and equipment. The company has committed to create 100 new, full-time jobs.
· Perquimans County: $1,500,000 to assist with Phase I of a 16.5 acre man-made marine basin. The purpose of Phase I is to attract marine manufacturers and supply chain manufacturers. The Perquimans commercial marine site is the only such site being developed on the US east coast that contains an upland marine basin.
The Utility Account of the Industrial Development Fund provides grants to units of local government of the 80 most distressed counties in the state to assist in job creation. The funds may be used for publicly-owned infrastructure and should be used for projects that are reasonably expected to result in the creation of jobs.
Building Reuse Program grants/loans approved :
· Alexander County: $150,000 to support the expansion of an 88,000 sq. ft. building in Taylorsville. The building was constructed in 1989 and has been occupied by Precision Materials for six years. Precision Materials designs and produces a wide variety of parts from wood, plastic, fiberglass, and composite materials. The company is currently producing furniture for IKEA and Ashley Furniture. The proposed project will assist with the construction of an additional 15,000 sq. ft. to the existing facility. Precision Materials has committed to create 15 new, full-time jobs.
· The City of Washington (Beaufort County): $500,000 to support the expansion of a 387,000 sq. ft. building. The building was constructed in 1966 and has been occupied by idX Impressions for 18 months. idX Impressions is a manufacturer of store fixtures for major retailers such as Dell, John Deere, and JC Penney. The company has facilities throughout North America, as well as locations in Europe and Asia. iDX Impressions has committed to create 50 new, full-time jobs.
· The Town of Edenton (Chowan County): $127,455 to support the reuse of a 3,200 sq. ft. space. The building was constructed in 1911 and the second floor of the building has been vacant for six years. The second floor has separate utilities and a separate entrance which meet the vacant building eligibility requirements. Standard Medical Acceptance, Inc. (SMA) is a New York based company that plans to locate a new operations center on the second floor of the building. SMA has committed to create 11 new, full-time jobs.
· Granville County: $254,826 to support the reuse of a 50,000 sq. ft. building in Oxford. The building was constructed in 1994 and has been vacant for three years. IDEAL Fastener will locate in the building to expand its manufacturing operation. IDEAL Fastener is manufacturer of zippers for any application including apparel, automotive, furniture, and more. The company currently has another location in Oxford. Ideal Fastener has also been awarded a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) from the State of North Carolina. Ideal Fastener has committed to create 21 new, full-time jobs.
· Halifax County: $33,794 to support the expansion of a 100,000 sq. ft. building in Weldon. The building was constructed in 1988 and has been occupied by Weldon Steel for 15 years. Weldon Steel is a structural steel fabrication company that offers fabrication services for construction of commercial, government, educational, health, and industrial manufacturing facilities. Weldon Steel has committed to create 4 new, full-time jobs.
· Montgomery County $200,000 to support the expansion of a 157,671 sq. ft. building in Biscoe. The building was constructed in 1946 and has been occupied by Grede Holdings, LLC for nearly four years. Grede Holdings, LLC is a full-service supplier of innovative metal components to the transportation and industrial markets. Grede Holdings has committed to create 20 new, full-time jobs.
· The Town of Seagrove (Randolph County): $100,000 to support the reuse of a 51,550 sq. ft building. The building was constructed in 1973 and has been vacant for over four years. H&H Furniture, a manufacturer of residential upholstered furniture, will locate in the building to expand their operations. The company has been operating in North Carolina for 35 years and currently has a facility in Seagrove. H&H Furniture has committed to create 20 new, full-time jobs.
· Rutherford County: $122,190 to support the reuse of a 6,000 sq. ft. building in Rutherfordton. The former Family Dollar facility was constructed in 1989 and has been vacant for three years. Family Preservation Services of NC, Inc. (FPS) will locate in the building to expand their existing operation. FPS is a healthcare company that provides a full array of community and office based behavioral and substance abuse services. The company has been operating in North Carolina for 14 years and currently has a facility in Rutherfordton. There are no expected changes to employment and no closures anticipated at the current location or any other NC locations. Family Preservation Services has committed to create 13 new, full-time jobs.
The Building Reuse Program provides grants/loans to local governments to support the reuse of vacant buildings and/or expand rural healthcare facilities that will lead to the creation of new, full-time jobs.