Governor Stein Announces More than $1 Billion of Private Investment and 342 New Jobs for Rural North Carolina

Governor Josh Stein today announced that North Carolina’s Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved 11 grant requests for local governments totaling $4,933,520. The grants include commitments to create a total of 673 jobs, 331 of which were previously announced. As a result of these grants, the additional private investment in these projects is expected to reach more than $1 billion.

“North Carolina is full of strong rural communities and great people,” said Governor Josh Stein. “These grants will help them make important improvements, strengthen local infrastructure, create good-paying jobs, and bring new investments to the places people call home.”

The RIA is supported by the rural economic development team at the North Carolina Department of Commerce. RIA members review and approve funding requests from local communities. Funding comes from a variety of specialized grant and loan programs offered and managed by the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Rural Economic Development Division, which is led by Assistant Secretary for Rural Development Reginald Speight. Grants support a variety of activities, including infrastructure development, building renovation, building expansion, building demolition, and site improvements.

“Across North Carolina, rural communities are working hard to create places where businesses want to invest and where people can find good opportunities close to home,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “In keeping with North Carolina’s new First in Opportunity plan, we are proud to partner with rural communities across the state by providing these tools to support infrastructure.”

The RIA approved 10 grant requests under the state’s Building Reuse Program. The grants fall into three categories:

Vacant Building Category

City of Claremont (Catawba County): A $500,000 grant will support renovations of a facility where Prysmian Cables and Systems USA is expanding. The company manufactures a wide range of cable applications in the energy and telecom cable systems industry. The overall project is expected to create 385 jobs, while 110 jobs and an investment of $2,041,072 are tied to this grant.
City of Fayetteville (Cumberland County): A $500,000 grant will support the reuse of a 28,479-square-foot building in Fayetteville where Skyeton Inc., a designer and developer of uncrewed aircraft systems, plans to establish its first U.S. manufacturing facility. The overall project is expected to create 162 jobs, while 93 jobs and an investment of $3,112,435 are tied to this grant.
City of Greensboro (Guilford County): A $500,000 grant will support the reuse of a 100,394-square-foot building in Greensboro. The facility will be occupied by Hoffman & Hoffman, Inc., which markets and sells commercial HVAC equipment, hydronics pumping equipment, and filtration systems. The project is expected to create 131 jobs, while 65 jobs and an investment of $9.7 million are tied to this grant.

Existing Business Building Category

City of Burlington (Alamance County): A $500,000 grant will support the renovation of an 800,000-square-foot building in Graham. Alamance Foods, Inc., a manufacturer of branded and private-label products including aerosol whipped cream, freeze pops, flavored drinks, and bottled water, will expand and add a new product line at this location. The project is expected to create 94 jobs and attract an investment of $36,578,238.
City of Lenoir (Caldwell County): A $186,000 grant will support the renovation of a 103,102-square-foot building in Lenoir to be occupied by Chase Corporation, which manufactures protective materials, including industrial coatings, tapes, adhesives, and sealants, for a variety of industries. The project is expected to create 37 jobs, with an investment of $233,274.
Town of Tarboro (Edgecombe County): A $300,000 grant will support a 28,000-square-foot expansion of an existing building in Tarboro that is occupied by Astemo Indiana, Inc. The company is a global supplier of advanced powertrain systems, autonomous driving and advanced driver-assistance systems, chassis products, and motorcycle components. The project is expected to create 52 jobs, while 37 jobs and an investment of $43,715,000 are tied to this grant.
Town of Tarboro (Edgecombe County): A $280,000 grant will support a 9,200-square-foot expansion of an existing building in Tarboro. This is one of two North Carolina locations for Madem-Moorecraft Reels USA, LLC, a Brazil-based manufacturer of nailed wood and plywood reels for the wire and cable industry. The project is expected to create 40 jobs, with an investment of $2,018,500.
Halifax County: A $95,000 grant will support the renovation of a 125,471-square-foot building in Weldon that is occupied by JBB Packaging, LLC, which manufactures polyethylene bags and sheeting, including pallet covers, mattress bags, and can liners. The project is expected to create 12 jobs, with an investment of $5,202,900.
Pitt County: A $100,000 grant will support the renovation of a 57,038-square-foot building in Winterville that is occupied by Winterville Machine Works. The company provides engineering, precision machining, welding, and fabrication services for customers in industries including marine, transportation, and mining. This project is expected to create nine jobs, with an investment of $474,640.

Rural Health Category

Buncombe County: A $480,000 grant will support the reuse of an 8,740-square-foot building in Black Mountain. Appalachian Mountain Health, Black Mountain, will operate an integrated health care facility offering primary care, behavioral health care, dental, and pharmaceutical services. The project is expected to create 48 jobs, with an investment of $14,591,626.

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, as well as in rural census tracts of Tier 3 counties.

The RIA approved one grant request under the state’s Industrial Development Fund – Utility Account program:

City of Wilson (Wilson County): A $1,492,520 grant will upgrade sewer infrastructure at the Wilson Corporate Park to support an expansion by Johnson & Johnson, the world-leading health care company. The creation of 128 jobs and $900 million in private investment are tied to this grant.

The Industrial Development Fund – Utility Account provides grants to local governments located in the 80 most economically distressed counties of the state, which are classified as either Tier 1 or Tier 2. Funds support publicly owned utility infrastructure projects that promote economic growth by encouraging new job creation. The IDF – Utility Account is funded through a process tied to the state’s signature Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) program. When JDIG-awarded companies choose to locate or expand in a Tier 2 or Tier 3 county, a portion of that JDIG award is channeled into the Utility Account. These infrastructure projects typically include improvements or expansions to water, sewer, electric, gas, and broadband systems that directly support business development and industrial expansion.

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 the Commerce Department’s Rural Economic Development team. Its 17 voting members are appointed by the Governor, Speaker of the House, and Senate President Pro Tem. The North Carolina Secretary of Commerce serves as an ex officio member of the authority.

The RIA elected officers at this meeting. Joe Sam Queen of Haywood County is the authority’s new chairman. Ronald Wesson of Bertie County will serve as vice-chair.

Visit the Rural Economic Development Division webpage for more information.

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