State approves $4 million in rural infrastructure grants tied to jobs, investment
RALEIGH — The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority has approved eight grant requests totaling more than $4 million for local governments, with the projects tied to job creation, private investment, building reuse, utility work and downtown improvements.
Gov. Josh Stein announced Thursday that the authority approved $4,085,208 in grants. The projects include commitments to create 396 jobs, including 300 previously announced jobs, and are expected to help support more than $126.2 million in additional public and private investment.
The Rural Infrastructure Authority is supported by the rural economic development team at the N.C. Department of Commerce. The authority reviews funding requests from local communities through several specialized grant and loan programs administered by Commerce’s Rural Economic Development Division.
The approved grants include four projects under the state’s Building Reuse Program. Lexington will receive $250,000 to support reuse of a 214,592-square-foot building where Supreme Nonwoven Industries plans to establish its U.S. hub of operations. Gaston County will receive $272,000 for a building reuse project involving Textum OPCO, LLC, an advanced textiles and composites manufacturer. Rockingham County will receive $400,000 for a Reidsville building reuse project involving Talalay Global, Inc. Taylorsville will receive $125,000 under the rural health category for a building where VitalNow Urgent Care plans to offer outpatient health care services.
The authority also approved a $1,862,000 federally funded Community Development Block Grant-Economic Development award for Hendersonville to support infrastructure improvements tied to BorgWarner’s expansion. The state said the overall project is expected to create 378 jobs and include $100 million in private investment.
Caldwell County will receive $709,508 from the Industrial Development Fund-Utility Account for sewer infrastructure improvements supporting development at the Foothills Regional Airport Industrial Park.
Two downtown economic development grants were also approved. Badin will receive $241,700 to renovate a 109-year-old former hospital building into a community meeting and event space. Asheboro will receive $225,000 for streetscape improvements on North Street and Trade Street, including sidewalks, curbs, gutters and buried power lines.
Editor’s note: This article was drafted with the assistance of artificial intelligence and was reviewed and fact-checked by a member of the NC Political News editorial team before publication.
