North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority Approves Nearly $3.83 Million in Funding Requests

North Carolina Commerce Secretary John E. Skvarla, III, and Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic Development Dr. Patricia Mitchell announced today that the North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) approved 14 grant and loan requests totaling $3,828,262. The requests include commitments to create a total of 272 new jobs.



The RIA reviews and approves funding requests for grant programs operated by the Rural Economic Development Division at N.C. Commerce. Grants support infrastructure development, building renovation and site improvements.



The RIA approved a total of 10 grants under the state’s Building Reuse program:



Existing Business Building Category



Town of Longview (Catawba County): A $500,000 grant to support the renovation of three existing buildings that will facilitate a 50-job expansion at Century Furniture, LLC. The family-owned company produces wood and upholstered furniture. The project improves roofing, electrical, lighting HVAC, fire protection and flooring at three structures constructed between 1940 and 1967. The grant is part of a total capital investment of $5,712,809.



Madison County: A $260,000 grant to support an addition to a building in Hot Springs that will facilitate a 26-job expansion by Punker, LLC. The company manufactures industrial fans and blowers. The project will upgrade roofing, electrical systems and windows for the structure, which was constructed in 1953. The grant is part of a total capital investment of $635,000.



Sampson County: A $110,000 grant to support the renovation of two existing buildings in Clinton that will facilitate an 11-job expansion by Brooks Brothers.  The company is a designer, manufacturer and distributor of apparel. The project will upgrade roofing, HVAC and electrical systems and paint the structures, which were constructed in 1958. The grant is part of a total capital investment of $3,500,000.



Vacant Building Category



Town of Mocksville (Davie County): A $500,000 grant to support the reuse of a vacant building for use by AccuMED Corp. The company, a medical device manufacturer relocating its operations from Buffalo, NY, will create 40 jobs. The project will upgrade lighting, flooring and HVAC and paint the structure. The building was constructed in 2003 and has been vacant for one year. The grant is part of a total capital investment of $1,120,409.



Duplin County: A $63,603 grant to support the reuse of a vacant building in Warsaw that will facilitate a seven-job expansion by Villari Brothers Trucking, Inc. The company transports livestock and refrigerated products from North Carolina to Florida and Texas. The project will upgrade roofing, electrical and HVAC systems and paint the structure. The building was constructed in 1973 and has been vacant for five years. The grant is part of a total capital investment of $270,372.



Hyde County: A $60,000 grant to support the reuse of a vacant building in Swan Quarter for use by Dare to Hyde, LLC. The outdoor adventure and hospitality company will create six jobs. The project includes the remodeling of 20 guest rooms, painting, and upgrades to HVAC, flooring and plumbing. The building was constructed in 1961 and has been vacant for 10 years. The grant is part of a total capital investment of $420,700.



Town of Smithfield (Johnston County): A $175,000 grant to support the reuse of a vacant building that will facilitate a 35-job expansion by Atlantic Resources Inc. The company designs, fabricates and installs mechanical systems, thermal imaging and related solutions for industrial and agricultural clients. The project renovates electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems and creates office space. The building was constructed in 1960 and has been vacant for 20 years. The grant is part of a total capital investment of $737,800.



Pitt County: A $250,000 grant to support the reuse of a vacant building in Farmville that will house D.R. Burton Healthcare Products, LLC. The company, which manufactures respiratory, anesthesia and operating room products, will create 20 jobs. The project upgrades plumbing, electrical, roofing and flooring. The building was constructed in 1998 and has been vacant for 16 years. The grant is part of a total capital investment of $1,475,000.



City of Salisbury (Rowan County): A $162,500 grant to support the reuse of a vacant building that will facilitate a 13-job expansion by Morgan Ridge Vineyards. The company will operate a brewing facility and restaurant. The project will upgrade roofing, electrical, HVAC and plumbing systems. The building was constructed in 1934 and has been vacant for two years. The grant is part of a total capital investment of $1,133,042.



North Wilkesboro (Wilkes County): A $50,000 grant to support the reuse of a vacant building that will facilitate a four-job expansion by Carolina Heritage Cabinetry. The company manufactures custom cabinetry and specialty woodworking. The project upgrades roofing, HVAC and electrical systems, and upfits office space. The building was constructed in 1952 and has been vacant one year. The grant is part of a total capital investment of $167,586.



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 and in rural census tracts of Tier 3 counties.



The RIA approved one loan under the state’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program:



Town of Denton (Davidson County): A $400,000 loan to support the reuse of a vacant building that will house Lionshead Specialty Tire and Wheel. The company, a manufacturer of specialty tires, will create 20 jobs. The building has been vacant for the past year. The grant is part of a total capital investment of $1,900,000.



The Community Development Block Grant program is a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program administered in part by North Carolina Commerce. CDBG’s economic development funds provide grants to local governments in Tier 1 and Tier 2 counties for creating and retaining jobs. Project funding is based on the number of jobs to be created and the level of economic distress of applicant communities.



The RIA approved three requests under the state’s Industrial Development Fund-Utility Account program.



Richmond County: A $1,000,000 grant to assist with upgrades to a water treatment plant facilitating a 30-job expansion at Perdue Farms, the county’s largest employer. The additional capacity is expected to preserve existing jobs and facilitate continued growth. The grant is part of total capital investment of $6,933,110.



Town of Forest City (Rutherford County): A $148,900 grant to extend the city’s water line approximately 1,000 feet to serve a new building on the Facebook campus, where water is used in cooling systems. The additional capacity will help preserve the 100 existing positions at the social media company and create another 10 jobs over the coming two years. The grant is part of a total capital investment of $2,587,059.



Town of Elkin (Surry County): An amendment to add $148,259 to an existing $500,000 grant made in 2013 to help pay for pumping station improvements to benefit Pittsburg Glass Works (PGW). Bids for this project have exceeded the previously allocated grant. PGW, a manufacturer of automotive glass, employs 150 workers at the site, having exceeded its hiring requirements as part of the initial award. The cooling and washing of glass is an integral part of PGWs’ production, and the lack of a reliable method by which to transport wastewater jeopardizes the company’s ability to retain and create jobs.



The Industrial Development Fund – Utility Account provides grants to units of local government in tier one and tier two counties to assist with job creation. Funds may be used for publicly-owned infrastructure and should be used for projects that are reasonably expected to result in the creation of new jobs.