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Rural Infrastructure Authority Approves 21 Grants to Rural Communities to Create over 1,100 Jobs and more than $177M of Investment

October 20, 2025

These grants are for projects that will attract $177M in public and private investment.

The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved 21 grant requests to local governments within the state, totaling $9,815,885 in investment. The grants include commitments to creating a total of 1,108 jobs and will attract more than $177 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 12 grant requests under the Building Reuse Program, 11 of which were awarded to companies represented by the EDPNC, including:

  • Bladen County: A $290,000 grant will support the reuse of a 55,600-square-foot building located at 204 Industrial Drive in Bladenboro. The building was constructed in 1999 and has been vacant for 36 months. MST Rebar, Inc. is a manufacturer of MST-BAR® fiberglass. The company currently has operations in Toronto, Canada. This will be the first facility in the U.S. The company will create 83 jobs and invest $619,090 in the project.
  • Catawba County: A $100,000 grant will support the reuse of a 105,000-square-foot building located at 1506 Emmanuel Church Road. The building was constructed in 2022 and has been vacant for nearly three years. Kooima Company is a precision metal fabricator serving agricultural and industrial OEMs. The company maintains long-term supply relationships with major customers such as John Deere, Caterpillar, and Komatsu. The company will create 13 jobs and invest $19,335,000 in the project.
  • Greene County: A $175,000 grant will support the reuse of a 50,000-square-foot building located at 204 Carolina Drive in Snow Hill. The building was constructed in 1992 and has been vacant for nine months. Judco Manufacturing, Inc. is an OEM automotive manufacturer specializing in the design and production of switches, wire harnesses, and custom molded components for Tier 1 and OEM automotive customers. The company will create 60 jobs and invest $428,500 in the project.
  • Lenoir County: A $500,000 grant will support the expansion of a building located at 4850 West Vernon Ave. in Kinston. The building was constructed in 1989. Electrolux Consumer Products is a Swedish appliance manufacturer that has operated in Kinston for over 35 years. The company will add 28,000 square feet to its existing facility to expand operations. The company will create 74 jobs and invest $27,200,000 in the project.
  • Lenoir County: A $150,000 grant will support the reuse of a 60,000-square-foot building located at 4114 Berkley Ave. in Kinston. The building was constructed in 1996 and has been vacant for over two years. Cardon Rehabilitation and Medical Equipment, Inc. is a Canadian-based manufacturer of premium, customized motorized physical therapy, massage therapy, and multidisciplinary clinic tables. The company is headquartered in Burlington, Ontario. The company will create 20 jobs and invest $580,271 in the project.
  • Alamance County: A $160,000 grant will support the renovation of a 40,000-square-foot portion of a building located at 3721 North Carolina Highway 119 in Swepsonville. The building was constructed in 1983 and has been vacant for one year. The full-scale renovation project will ensure that the facility can be used by American Honda Motor to expand its ATV manufacturing operations. The renovation will support the addition of new production lines for critical ATV parts, including front and rear fenders, side covers, and other components used in assembly. The company will create 19 jobs and invest $9,840,000 in the project.
  • Caldwell County: A $500,000 grant will support the reuse of a 98,000-square-foot building located at 408 Jason Place SW. The building was constructed in 1978 and has been vacant for six months. Brunswick Pharma, LLC distributes a variety of pharmaceutical brands, over the counter, allopathic and homeopathic drugs and niche food supplements to national drug retailers such as CVS, Walgreens, and Dollar General. The company will create 71 jobs and invest $6,700,000 in the project.
  • Cleveland County: A $65,000 grant will support the renovation of a 104,889-square-foot building located at 707 Broadview Drive in Kings Mountain. The building was constructed in 1989. Blachford, Inc. is a family-owned business that manufactures rubber and noise-reducing products for a variety of sectors. The company has plans to close its Canadian manufacturing facility in the noise-reducing sector and expand operations in Kings Mountain. The company will create 16 jobs and invest $71,722 in the project.
  • Edgecombe County: A $450,000 grant will support the expansion of a building located at 3022 NC 43 North. The building was constructed in 1967. ABB, Inc. is a Swedish multinational leader in automation and electrification producing a variety of products including electrical equipment, robotics, industrial automation, and water and power solutions. The company plans to add 38,000 SF to their existing facility. The company will create 49 jobs and invest $590,790 in the project.
  • Mitchell County: A $300,000 grant will support the new construction of a 20,000-square-foot building to be located at 13528 Hwy 226 South in Spruce Pine. Mountain Community Health Partnership, Inc. (MCHP) will replace MCHP’s existing Spruce Pine clinic to allow for substantial expansion of clinical services, increased patient capacity, and consolidation of administrative functions. The company will create 24 jobs and invest $15,069,386 in the project.
  • Rutherford County: A $480,000 grant will support the reuse of a 224,905-square-foot building located at 2080 NC 226 Hwy in Bostic. The building was constructed in 1969 and has been vacant for over two years. TMG & Haartz Solutions, LLC is a joint venture between Hartz and TMG Group. Both are manufacturers of automotive interiors and soft trims. The company will create 68 jobs and invest $56,238,400 in the project.

Additionally, the RIA approved five Industrial Development Fund – Utility Account Program grants, two of which were awarded to companies represented by the EDPNC, including:

  • Davidson County: A $450,000 grant will assist Central Carolina Seeding in expansion at its site in Lexington. A new sewer line and access road are needed. Funding partners include the County and NC DOT. The total cost of the project is $1,020,000, and $15,000,000 in private funds will also be leveraged.
  • Yadkin County: A $142,500 grant will assist in the expansion of Advantage Machinery Services facility in Yadkinville. The new force main sewer construction will assist the company in their expansion. The County will provide matching funds. The total cost of the project is $191,000, and $40,000 in private funds will be leveraged.

In addition to reviewing and approving funding requests, the NC 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.