North Carolina Governor Josh Stein has announced that the state’s Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved 12 grants for local governments, totaling nearly $5.9 million. These grants are expected to support the creation of 277 jobs across rural areas, with an overall investment in these projects projected to exceed $43 million from both private and public sources.
“When rural North Carolina wins, all of North Carolina wins,” said Governor Josh Stein. “These grants are strengthening infrastructure, increasing rural economic competitiveness, and giving more people the opportunity to have a great job close to home.”
The RIA operates with support from the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s rural economic development team. The authority reviews and approves funding requests from local communities through several grant and loan programs managed by the department’s Rural Economic Division, led by Assistant Secretary for Rural Development Reginald Speight. Grants target activities such as infrastructure development, building renovation or expansion, demolition, and site improvements.
“Investing in our rural communities is more than infrastructure; it’s providing opportunity,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “Companies are looking for great places to work, live and play, and with commercial buildings and industrial sites that are ready to be activated, every corner of the state becomes the best place to do business.”
Seven grants were approved under the Building Reuse Program in two categories: vacant building reuse and existing business building renovation or expansion.
In Craven County, a $360,000 grant will help renovate a 100,000-square-foot building in New Bern for Chatsworth Products’ manufacturing operations. This project is set to create 45 jobs with an investment of over $635,000.
The City of Fayetteville received an $80,000 grant for reusing a 21,000-square-foot facility by Benjamin Stout Real Estate Services. Ten jobs are expected as part of this project alongside a $757,313 investment.
Forsyth County will use a $175,000 grant to repurpose a 144,000-square-foot Winston-Salem facility for GMAX Industries’ medical products manufacturing. This effort aims to create 36 jobs with nearly $5.8 million invested.
Halifax County secured a $174,000 grant for renovating a Weldon facility where East Coast Solutions will blend animal proteins for feed and pet food production—resulting in 20 new jobs and about $176,000 invested.
For existing businesses:
Buncombe County received a $100,000 grant supporting Southeastern Container’s renovation project at its plastic bottle manufacturing site—creating 12 jobs with over $8 million invested.
The Town of Tarboro was awarded $500,000 toward LS Cable and System USA’s renovation efforts at their power cable production site; this will generate 85 jobs backed by almost $11 million in private investment.
Surry County obtained another $500,000 grant supporting Altec Industries’ Mount Airy expansion project for electric utility products—expected to create 79 jobs with about $9.7 million invested.
Under the Industrial Development Fund – Utility Account program:
Nash County was granted over $236,000 for sewer infrastructure extension within its industrial corridor—a project paired with approximately $6.5 million in private investment.
Wilkes County’s Town of North Wilkesboro received about $1.2 million to extend roadways as well as water and sewer lines into Wilkes Industrial Park while pursuing NC Certified Sites certification.
Three additional grants under the Rural Downtown Economic Development program aim at public infrastructure:
Washington (Beaufort County) was awarded an $850,000 grant for phase two streetscape improvements including sidewalks compliant with ADA standards and other pedestrian features; total investments from public/private sources are estimated at over $629 thousand.
Longview (Catawba County) also received an $850,000 grant targeting sidewalk upgrades along downtown routes—with investments exceeding $142 thousand anticipated from combined sources.
Edenton (Chowan County) secured an equal amount to upgrade lighting throughout its historic downtown district; total leveraged investments should surpass $458 thousand.
The Office of the Governor serves all regions within North Carolina according to official information. As chief executive officer of the state government and leader of the Council of State, Governor Stein directs state policy decisions including budget management and executive appointments. He currently serves as North Carolina’s seventy-sixth governor as noted on his office website.
The RIA consists of seventeen voting members appointed by top state officials including the governor; it sets priorities for programs run by Commerce Department staff focused on rural economic development.
