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The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved four grant requests to local governments within the state, totaling $1,872,019 in investment. The grants include commitments to creating a total of 170 jobs and will attract more than $74.5 million in private investment.
The Rural Infrastructure Authority is a 17-member board that awards Rural, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), and Utility grant funds, which include the Building Reuse Program and the Industrial Development Fund – Utility Account program. 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 healthcare facilities that will lead to the creation of new jobs in Tier 1 and Tier 2 counties and rural census tracts of Tier 3 counties.
The RIA approved three grant requests under the Building Reuse Program, two of which were awarded to companies represented by the EDPNC. The awardees for the two grants fall under the Vacant Building category, including:
- Anson County: A $500,000 grant will support the reuse of a 28,441-square-foot building in Ansonville. Halal Meat Slaughter House, Inc., a family-owned meat processing company, plans to relocate to this facility to expand its operations – expecting to create 61 jobs, while investing $4,465,631.
- Gaston County: A $500,000 grant will support the reuse of a 175,239-square-foot building in Bessemer City. At this site, Healsee Capsules, Inc., a global manufacturer of cellulose ethers and plant-based empty capsules, plans to establish its second US location. The company plans to create 95 jobs while investing $69.5 million.
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. The Governor, Speaker of the House and Senate President Pro Tem appoint its 17 voting members. The North Carolina Secretary of Commerce serves as a member of the Authority, ex officio.
For additional information about NC Commerce’s Rural Economic Development Division, visit www.commerce.nc.gov/rural-economic-development-division.