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 five grants totaling $1.4 million with the commitment of more than 130 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 new division include assistance for building reuse and restoration as well as infrastructure including water and sewer.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) approved:
• Town of Faison (Duplin County): $240,000 to construct 11,600 linear feet of 10 inch distribution lines and a 500,000 gallon elevated water storage tank to allow Southern Produce Distributors to construct a new 90,000-square-foot warehouse that will be used to store sweet potatoes and sweet potato processed products on NC Highway 403. The company packs and ships three million bushels of sweet potatoes annually to U.S., Canadian, and European customers. The company has committed to create 20 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.
Building Reuse Program grants/loans approved :
• City of Cherryville (Gaston County): $300,000 to support the expansion of a 30,200-square-foot building located at 111 Harrilson Road. The building was constructed in 1978. Carolina Care Center, an elder care facility, will add 22,000-square-feet of new construction to the existing building. The expansion will add 24 new, private units to the facility. The company has committed to creating 30 new, full time jobs with the expansion.
• Granville County: $150,000 to support the reuse of a 240,000-square-foot building at 200 East 20th Street in Butner. The building dating back to 1955 has been vacant for seven years. Product Recovery Management (PRM, Inc.) will locate in the building. The company is a manufacturer of environmental remediation and landfill gas equipment and will create 15 new, full-time jobs.
• City of Greenville (Pitt County): $210,000 to support the reuse of an 18,000-square-foot building located at 967 Woodbridge Park Road. The building was constructed in 2005 and has been vacant for eight years. Purilum, LLC, a start-up joint venture between Alliance One Specialty Products and IOTO USA, will locate in the building with a goal of becoming a leader in the e-liquids filling and manufacturing industry for e-cigarettes. The company has plans to offer flavorings for other products including food and beverages in the future. The company committed to creating 21 new, full-time jobs.
• City of Lumberton (Robeson County): $500,000 to support the renovation of a 605,242-square-foot building located at 300 West 27th Street. The building was constructed in 1952. Southeastern Health, in collaboration with Campbell University, plans to start residency programs in the following disciplines: Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, General Surgery, Psychiatry, Traditional Rotating Internship and Orthopedic Surgery. The company has committed to creating 50 new, full-time jobs.
The Building Reuse Program will provide 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.
The RIA meets bimonthly to review and approve grants specifically targeted to assist with economic development and job creation in the rural areas of North Carolina.