North Carolina Commerce Secretary John E. Skvarla, III, and Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic Development Dr. Patricia Mitchell announced today that the North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) approved 14 grants totaling $4,573,383. The requests include commitments to create a total of 330 new jobs.
The RIA reviews and approves funding requests for grant programs operated by the Rural Economic Development Division at the N.C. Department of Commerce. Grants support infrastructure development, building renovation and site improvements.
The RIA approved a total of eight grants under the state’s Building Reuse program:
Rural Health Care Facilities Category
- City of Graham (Alamance County): $400,000 to support Peak of Graham, LLC, a family-owned nursing care facility that will construct 70,000 square feet of space at 600 North Main Street. Peak of Graham, LLC is a privately family owned nursing home facility, based out of Cary, N.C. The grant supports a total investment of $11,572,620 being made at the site. Peak of Graham plans to create 40 new jobs.
- Montgomery County: $200,000 to support Sandy Ridge Memory Care & Assisted Living’s 10,000 square-foot expansion to its building at 326 Bowman Road in Candor. The company provides a secure environment for individuals with Alzheimer’s and related dementias. The building was constructed in 2000 and Sandy Ridge Memory Care & Assisted Living has been its only occupant. The grant supports a total investment of $1,612,571 being made at the site. Sandy Ridge Memory Care plans to create 20 new jobs.
Existing Business Building Category
- Beaufort County: $319,762 to support a 15,000 square-foot expansion by Oak Ridge Metal Works at its site at 1228 Page Road in Washington. The company provides electrical, mechanical and metal fabrication. The building was constructed in 2005 and has been occupied by Oak Ridge Metal Works for the last two years. The grant supports a total investment of $1,431,250 being made at the site. Oak Ridge Metal Works plans to create 32 new jobs.
- Burke County: $200,000 to support an expansion by SpartaCraft at its 74,198 square-foot building at 7690 Sparta Craft Drive in Connelly Springs. The company produces specialty wood products including military and veteran flag display cases, custom furniture, custom home theaters and furniture finishing. The building was constructed in 1932 and has been occupied by SpartaCraft for 13 years. The grant supports a total investment of $411,903 being made at the site. SpartaCraft plans to create 20 new jobs.
- Cherokee County: $86,250 to support TEAM Industries’ expansion of a 161,262 square-foot building located at 3750 Airport Road in Andrews. The company manufactures driveline products that include transmissions and transaxles, axles and four-wheel drive systems, continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) and electric vehicle drivetrains. The building was constructed in 1983 and has been occupied by TEAM Industries for 10 years. The grant supports a total investment of $576,813 being made at the property. TEAM Industries plans to create 9 jobs.
- The Town of Mocksville (Davie County): $500,000 to support Avgol American’s expansion of a 282,069 square-foot building located at 178 Avgol Drive in Mocksville. The company is a global supplier of non-woven hygiene solutions. The building was constructed in 2000 and has been occupied by Avgol American, Inc., for 14 years. The grant supports a total investment of $8,000,025 being made at the property. Avgol American plans to create 50 jobs.
Vacant Building Category
- Town of Marshall (Madison County): $75,000 to support Buchi Tea’s reuse of a 27,934 square-foot building located at 242 Derringer Drive in Marshall. The company, which manufacturers brewed kombucha, a probiotic all-natural beverage, will relocate its current production facility there. The building was constructed in 1973 and has been vacant for three months. The grant supports a total investment of $1,779,300 being made at the property. Buchi Tea plans to create 6 jobs.
- Robeson County: $125,000 to support Smith’s Refrigeration’s reuse of a 48,000 square-foot building located at 170 Flair Fold Drive in Lumberton. The company, which specializes in commercial refrigeration, heavy mechanical service and sheet metal fabrication, will relocate its existing operations there. The building was constructed in 1978 and has been vacant for three years. The grant supports a total investment of $729,073 being made at the property. Smith’s Refrigeration plans to create 10 jobs.
The Building Reuse Program provides grants to local governments to renovate vacant buildings, renovate and/or expand buildings occupied by existing North Carolina companies, and renovate, expand or construct health care facilities that will lead to the creation of new jobs in Tier 1 and Tier 2 counties and in rural census tracks of Tier 3 counties.
The RIA approved one loan and one grant under the state’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program:
- Edgecombe County: A $500,000 loan to support Wada Farms reuse of a vacant 65,000 square-foot building at 5006 NC 33 East in Tarboro. The building has been vacant for four years. Idaho-based Wada Farms grows and distributes a variety of white potatoes and onions and will begin distributing sweet potatoes in North Carolina. The grant supports a total investment of $1,800,000 being made in the building. Wada Farms plans to create 25 jobs.
- City of Lumberton (Robeson County): A $495,041 grant to demolish two dilapidated industrial buildings. Constructed in 1928 and 1946, the buildings require abatement of lead-based paint and asbestos prior to demolition. Neither building generates property tax revenue. City officials plan to market the cleared properties for use as light industrial and warehouse operations.
The Community Development Block Grant program is a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program administered in part by the North Carolina Department of Commerce. CDBG’s economic development funds provide grants to local governments in Tier 1 and Tier 2 counties for creating and retaining jobs. Project funding is based on the number of jobs to be created and the level of economic distress of applicant communities.
The RIA approved two requests for funding under the state’s Economic Infrastructure program:
- City of Washington (Beaufort County): A $100,000 grant for water and sewer infrastructure that will allow New Age Properties Group, LLC, to open an 87-room hotel in Washington. The company will be the anchor tenant on a 15-parcel commercial and light industrial property that is not currently served by public infrastructure. The grant supports a total of $6,839,600 being invested at the site. New Age Properties will create 20 jobs.
- City of Monroe (Union County): A $237,500 grant for water and sewer infrastructure to support an expansion by TDY Industries, LLC (dba ATI Specialty Materials). The company produces specialty materials and components for markets that include aerospace, defense, energy, automotive, medical and other industries. TDY Industries will build an additional 150,000 square-feet of space in order to meet demand from its aerospace buyers. The grant supports a total investment of $70,424,000 being made at the site. TDY Industries will create 48 jobs.
The Economic Infrastructure Program provides grants to local governments in the 80 most economically distressed counties to assist with infrastructure projects that will lead to job-creation. Water and sewer lines, wastewater treatment plants, natural gas lines, public broadband infrastructure, roadways and rail spurs are examples of infrastructure covered under program guidelines.
The RIA approved two requests under the state’s Industrial Development Fund - Utility Account program.
- Onslow County: A grant of $1,243,875 to improve infrastructure and support the expansion of N.A. Burton Business & Industrial Park. Improvements will include a roadway extension and water and sewer service that will support industrial operations. The park is currently approaching maximum occupancy. The new infrastructure will open more than 100 acres of quality industrial land for new development, job creation and economic investment.
- Town of Henderson (Vance County): A grant of $90,955 to extend city water service in support of an expansion by Jerry’s Artarama. The company distributes arts and crafts supplies to 15 retail locations from its fulfillment and distribution center in Henderson. Its expansion plans include use of a 60,000 square foot building currently unserved by water. Jerry’s Artarama plans to create 50 jobs.
The Industrial Development Fund – Utility Account provides grants to units of local government of the 80 most distressed counties in the state to assist with job creation. Funds may be used for publicly-owned infrastructure and should be used for projects that are reasonably expected to result in the creation of new jobs.
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