The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved 21 grant requests to local governments totaling around $10.79 million.
The requests include commitments to create a total of 1,314 jobs, 515 which have previously been announced. The public investment in these projects will attract more than $123.7 million in private investment.
The RIA approved 16 grants under the state’s Building Reuse Program in three categories.
Burke County: A $500,000 grant will support the reuse of a 206,522-sq.-ft. building in Hildebran. SynergyLabs, a developer and manufacturer of pet and veterinary products, plans to move its manufacturing operations from Florida to this location. This project is expected to create 42 jobs and represents an investment of about $12.24 million by the company.
Cleveland County: A $500,000 grant will support the renovation of a 140,000-sq.-ft. building in Shelby. Greenheck Group, a supplier of air movement, control and conditioning equipment for commercial, institutional and industrial buildings, is locating its operations in the facility. While a total of 403 new jobs are expected to be created by the company with an investment of $58.8 million, 86 of those jobs and an investment of $832,100 are tied to this grant.
Harnett County: A $500,000 grant will support the reuse of a 59,314-sq.-ft. building in Lillington, which will be occupied by KriGen Pharmaceuticals. The company will manufacture medical IV bags and liquid injectables at the facility. This grant will facilitate the creation of 64 jobs (out of a total of 100 jobs set to be created) and an investment of about $8.02 million by the company.
City of Sanford (Lee County): An $85,000 grant will support the reuse of a 145,636-sq.-ft. building. Triad Corrugated Metal, which provides metal roofing, building systems and accessories to commercial, residential and agricultural customers, will locate in the facility. The project is expected to create 17 jobs and attract $629,000 in private investment.
City of Jacksonville (Onslow County): A $350,000 grant will support the reuse of a 20,389-sq.-ft. building, which will be occupied by The Results Companies (TRC), a call center operation that provides inbound/outbound and back office support. The company expects to create 325 jobs and invest $311,215 in this project.
Pasquotank County: A $400,000 grant will support the reuse of a 25,000-sq.-ft. building in Elizabeth City. Telephonics Corporation, a designer and manufacturer of aerospace radar and communications systems for aerospace, defense and commercial customers, will occupy the facility, creating an expected 50 jobs and investing about $1.64 million.
City of Archdale (Randolph County): A $125,000 grant will support the reuse of a 5,782-sq.-ft. building. Hubbell Industrial Controls, an international manufacturer of electrical/electronic products for construction, industrial and utility applications, plans to expand upon its current Archdale operations nearby by locating in this additional facility. The project is expected to create 14 jobs and attract $130,537 in investment by the company.
Rockingham County: A $500,000 grant will support the reuse of a 160,100-sq.-ft. building in Reidsville. Pella Corporation, a manufacturer of window and door products for residential and commercial use, will locate in the facility, creating 124 jobs and investing nearly $20 million. Of those totals, 95 jobs and $2,050,000 in investment are tied to this grant.
Rutherford County: A $500,000 grant will support the reuse of a 127,312-sq.-ft. building in Spindale, which will be occupied by Cardinal Tissue. The company, which produces a selection of napkin products, is expected to create 40 jobs and invest $8,506,584 in this project.
Rutherford County: A $225,000 grant will support the reuse of a 66,000-sq.-ft. building in Forest City, which will be occupied by SSD Designs, a plastic recycling company. This project is expected to create 18 jobs and represents an investment of $375,561 by the company.
Granville County: A $500,000 grant will support the renovation of a 112,000-sq.-ft. building in Creedmoor occupied by Altec Industries. The company provides products and services to the electric utility, telecommunications, tree care, lights and signs and contractor markets. Its products include aerial devices, digger derricks, truck bodies and related equipment. The company plans to create 72 jobs and invest about $8.25 million in this project.
Montgomery County: A $500,000 grant will support the renovation of a 120,000-sq.-ft. building in Troy occupied by AmeriQual Aseptic, a food processing company that specializes in the development, processing, packaging and distribution of shelf-stable foods. The project is expected to create 76 jobs with an investment of around $23.32 million by the company, as it adds a new product line.
Camden County: A $50,000 grant will support the reuse of a 2,600-sq.-ft. building in Camden, where Chesapeake Regional Medical Center plans to open a facility that will provide primary care services and lab services. The project is expected to create 5 jobs and attract $313,271 in private investment.
Town of Scotland Neck (Halifax County): An $80,000 grant will support the renovation of a 217,800-sq.-ft. building occupied by Our Community Hospital/Bryan Health & Rehabilitation Center. The 80-bed skilled nursing facility provides 24-hour nursing care. This renovation project is expected to add 8 jobs and attract $302,150 in private investment.
Rutherford County: A $270,000 grant will support the new construction of a 27,900-sq.-ft. facility in Lake Lure by Affinity Living Group, an assisted living provider offering Alzheimer’s and memory care and senior housing throughout the southeastern United States. The company expects to create 27 jobs and invest $10,956,607 in the project.
Scotland County: A $125,000 grant will support the reuse of a 4,500-sq.-ft. building in Laurinburg. Carolina Hearts Home Care, which provides in-home aide services to Scotland County and surrounding counties, plans to locate in the facility, while creating 15 jobs and investing $175,500.
The RIA approved four requests under the state’s federally-funded Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) – Economic Development program:
Halifax County: A $750,000 grant will support major renovations to an existing industrial building in Weldon, to include construction of a mechanical tower, electrical improvements, construction of company offices, and mechanical and plumbing improvements. JBB Packaging, a plastic packaging manufacturer, plans to create 50 jobs at the facility, while investing $11,900,000 in the project.
Town of Four Oaks (Johnston County): A $1 million grant will support the extension of public water and sewer infrastructure to an industrial site to meet sewer and fire protection needs for Broad River Retail, an Ashley HomeStore licensee. The company will locate a distribution center, retail store and corporate learning center at the site. The project is set to result in the initial construction of a 182,300-sq.-ft. facility, the creation of 102 jobs and an investment of $16 million by the company. Overall, the new location is projected to create 161 jobs.
Town of North Wilkesboro (Wilkes County): A $580,000 grant will support the construction of a 500,000-gallon water tank for increased water supply and fire suppression at the North Wilkesboro location of Jeld-Wen, a manufacturer of specialty doors. The company is expected to create 29 jobs and invest $8 million in this project.
City of Wilson (Wilson County): A $750,000 grant will support major interior improvements and renovations to an industrial building that will be occupied by CleanAire, an air filtration manufacturing company that will service retail, wholesale, commercial and industrial markets. The company plans to create 305 jobs and invest $10 million at the site, with 179 of those jobs and $9,851,500 worth of investment tied to this grant.
The RIA approved one request under the state’s Industrial Development Fund – Utility Account program:
Town of Oakboro (Stanly County): A $2.5 million grant will help the Town extend water and sewer infrastructure to support a site for industrial development.
In addition to reviewing and approving funding requests, the N.C. Rural Infrastructure Authority formulates policies and priorities for grant and loan programs administered by N.C. Commerce’s Rural Economic Development team.