The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved 18 grant requests to local governments totaling $4.85 million.
The requests include commitments to create a total of 590 jobs, 296 of which were previously announced. The public investment in these projects will attract more than $103 million in private investment.
The RIA approved 15 grant requests under the state’s Building Reuse Program in three categories:
Vacant Building Category
Burke County: A $500,000 grant will support the reuse of a 319,000-sq.-ft. building in Morganton, where Unix Packaging, a California-based contract manufacturer of branded and private label beverages, is locating its first East Coast production facility, as well as a warehouse.
Carteret County: A $200,000 grant will support the reuse of a 100,000-sq.-ft. building in Newport. Bally Refrigerated Boxes, a manufacturer of walk-in coolers, freezers and refrigerated warehouses, plans to locate operations at the facility.
Town of Hookerton (Greene County): A $55,000 grant will support the reuse of three buildings, totaling 11,825 sq. ft. Unifab, which manufactures, distributes and sells cargo lifts, plans to locate in the buildings, while creating 10 jobs and investing $56,703 in the project.
Lincoln County: An $80,000 grant will support the reuse of a 45,000-sq.-ft. building in Lincolnton. Punker LLC, a manufacturer of industrial fans and blowers, plans to relocate its operations there. The company expects to create 16 jobs while investing $1,990,958 in the project.
City of Trinity (Randolph County): A $100,000 grant will support the reuse of a 40,000-sq.-ft. building. MG Art Products, a subsidiary of Jerry’s Artarama, will manufacture paint supplies and framing products at this site. This project is expected to create 22 jobs with an investment of $20,980,000 by the company.
Vance County: A $500,000 grant will support the reuse of a 197,000-sq.-ft. building in Henderson. Select Products Holdings, a manufacturer of tissue products that supply a wide range of leading consumer retailers, plans to locate operations at the facility. The company expects to create 73 jobs and invest $4 million in the overall project, while 53 jobs and a $577,901 investment are tied to this grant.
City of Wilson (Wilson County): A $150,000 grant will support the reuse of a 2,965-square-foot building, a former drug store. North State Consulting LLC, will make this location its headquarters office. The company, which specializes in working with technology companies to help bring their products to market, expects to create 18 jobs and invest $270,000 in this project.
Existing Business Building Category
Cleveland County: A $360,000 grant will support the expansion of a building in Shelby that is occupied by IMC Metals America. The company, a smelter of copper to be used for manufacturing parts, plans to add 30,000 sq. ft. to the existing facility. Overall, the company plans to create 46 jobs.
City of Lexington (Davidson County): A $200,000 grant will support the renovation of a 602,559-sq.-ft. building in the Linwood community that is occupied by Haylard North Carolina. The company manufactures surgical and infection prevention products, and this renovation will allow the company to add a new line to produce N95 face-masks. The project is set to create 22 jobs and attract $3,009,000 in private investment.
Lenoir County: A $75,000 grant will support the expansion of a building in Kinston. Additive America, a contract manufacturer that produces 3D-printed prosthetics and personal protective equipment, plans to add 5,000 sq. ft. to the existing facility to help fulfill large client orders. The company expects to add nine jobs and invest $1,245,000 in this project.
Onslow County: A $230,000 grant will support the renovation of a 191,000-sq.-ft. building in Hubert that is occupied by Waterline Systems. The company, which manufactures welded aluminum and steel boats and barges, plans to expand its operations at this location, creating an expected 23 jobs while investing $289,900 in the project.
Robeson County: A $500,000 grant will support the expansion of a building in Pembroke that is occupied by Steven Roberts Original Desserts. The desserts manufacturer plans to add 29,000 sq. ft. to the existing facility. This project is set to create 100 jobs.
Rowan County: A $460,000 grant will support the expansion of a building in Salisbury. Continental Structural Plastics, which manufactures lightweight materials and composite solutions for the automotive, heavy truck, HVAC and construction industries, plans to add 55,000 sq. ft. to the existing facility at this location. The overall project is set to create 61 jobs.
Rural Health Category
Town of Glen Alpine (Burke County): A $60,000 grant will support the construction of a new, 3,080-sq.-ft. building. Silver Creek Family Practice, a medical practice that serves patients from infants to senior citizens, has outgrown its current space and plans to construct this new facility. The project is set to create six jobs and attract $502,948 in private investment.
Macon County: A $70,000 grant will support the reuse of a vacant, 3,300-sq.-ft. building in Franklin. Hospice House Foundation, an inpatient facility that offers hospice and palliative care, home care, care navigation, and clinical research, is set to add a facility at this location. The organization, which currently has nine facilities throughout North Carolina, expects to create seven jobs and invest $4,500,000 in this project.
The RIA approved one request under the state’s federally-funded Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) – Economic Development program in the Town of Norwood (Stanly County.A $250,000 grant will support the reuse of an 8,000-sq.-ft. building that will become home to CYES Factory, an east coast location for the Jalisco Tortilla Factory. Renovations supported by the grant will impact the roof, HVAC, electrical, plumbing and flooring.
The RIA approved two requests under the state’s Industrial Development Fund – Utility Account program. In Columbus County, an $866,983 grant will help the county provide increased water flow to Helena Chemical Co., which recently completed a move to a new 40-acre site located in the Southeast Regional Park. The water service improvement will also open an additional 130 acres for future economic development at the other end of the park, which is already served by sewer, electric, gas and rail. In Vance County, a $190,260 grant will assist the county in the completion of sewer and road infrastructure at the county’s premier industrial park. These infrastructure improvements will help make the 84-acre site a viable economic development target.