Rural counties revitalized with $52 million investment, Gov. Josh Stein said.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Rural counties across North Carolina are seeing $3 million to renovate buildings, increase pedestrian safety and create jobs after the Rural Infrastructure Authority approved nine grants to local governments, Gov. Josh Stein announced. 

The support from these grants are expected to give rural counties a much needed economic and community boost. 

“North Carolina’s rural communities are excellent places to live, work and do business,” Gov. Stein said. 

The $3 million comes with a combined $52 million in private investments from companies that will use the buildings once they have been fully renovated. 

Building renovations are supported by the state’s Building Reuse Program. 

Buildings in Rockingham County and Transylvania County will be reused as workplaces. 

$500K will go to the reuse of a building in Reidsville, which will be occupied by Joyalways Corporation, a baby wipes manufacturer that plans to create 44 jobs in the area. 

The town of Stoneville in Rockingham was also granted $200K to renovate a currently vacant building into a bank. 

In Transylvania County, $75K will go to the reuse of a building in Brevard, which will be occupied by Nature Trails NC, an outdoor design and construction company that plans to create 16 jobs. 

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A Hertford County company, Structural Coating Hertford, will be expanding an existing building with a $280K grant in Cofield. The expansion promises 35 jobs.

The town of Pembroke will receive a combined $461K through two grants under the Building Reuse Program and the Rural Downtown Economic Development program. 

$150K will be used to construct a building for Robeson Health Care Corporation to expand existing operations, including creating 12 jobs. The new building will include an eye-care center and additional exam rooms. 

A new public space in downtown Pembroke will see the remaining $311K. 

Another health care facility is expected in Rocky Mount. 

$375K of grant money goes towards reusing a hospital as facilities for the Opportunities Industrialization Center of Rocky Mount, which provides medical services, career readiness classes and various business-related services. The grant comes along with creating 30 jobs.. 

Outside of Greenville, the town of Williamston will receive a grant to repurpose a building connected to the town hall into a community space for meetings and local events. 

In western North Carolina, Boone was granted $850K to convert a portion of the downtown area into a pedestrian and bicycle only walkway to increase safety for nearby Appalachian State students and residents. 

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Stein ensures the grants and private investments will improve quality of life for rural residents.

“The latest rural infrastructure grants strengthen these communities even more by helping to create jobs, access to health care and strengthen downtowns,” Gov. Stein said. 

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