Governor Josh Stein announced that the Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved nine grant requests for local governments amounting to $2,941,000. These grants are set to create 137 jobs and attract over $52 million in additional investments.
“North Carolina’s rural communities are excellent places to live, work, and do business,” said Governor Stein. “The latest rural infrastructure grants support these communities even more by helping to create jobs, expand access to health care, and strengthen downtowns.”
The RIA operates under the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Rural Economic Development Division led by Assistant Secretary Reginald Speight. The authority reviews funding requests from local communities with financial backing from various specialized grant and loan programs.
“We are excited by the opportunities to partner with our state’s rural communities through these infrastructure grant projects,” stated Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “These investments will help rural North Carolina grow jobs, expand opportunity, and improve people’s quality of life.”
The RIA has sanctioned five grants under the Building Reuse Program:
– In Rockingham County, a $500,000 grant will aid Joyalways Corporation in reusing a building in Reidsville. This project is expected to create 44 jobs with an investment of $10,757,500.
– Transylvania County received a $75,000 grant for Nature Trails NC LLC in Brevard. This initiative is projected to generate 16 jobs with an investment of $80,745.
– Hertford County’s Structural Coating Hertford LLC expansion will be supported by a $280,000 grant expected to create 35 jobs with an investment of $1,674,659.
In the Rural Health Building category:
– Edgecombe County’s City of Rocky Mount received a $375,000 grant for OIC’s Family Medical Center reuse project aimed at creating 30 jobs and investing $13,426,500.
– Robeson County’s Town of Pembroke was granted $150,000 for Robeson Health Care Corporation’s new facility construction expected to create 12 jobs with an investment of $11,442,615.
Additionally approved were four grants under the Rural Downtown Economic Development program:
– Martin County’s Town of Williamston received a $200,000 grant for its Old Police Department Reuse Project anticipated to leverage an investment of $11,364.
– Rockingham County’s Town of Stoneville secured a similar amount for its Fidelity Building Revitalization Project expected to leverage an investment of $12,500.
– Robeson County’s Town of Pembroke was awarded a $311,000 grant aimed at transforming vacant property into public space leveraging an investment of $15,550.
– Watauga County’s Town of Boone obtained an $8500-grant focused on pedestrian safety improvements projected to leverage an investment worth approximately$15 million.
These initiatives aim at bolstering economic growth across North Carolina’s rural areas through strategic development efforts.
