The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved 31 grant requests to local governments totaling $10,982,835, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The requests include commitments to create a total of 565 jobs, 135 of which were previously announced. The public investment in these projects will attract more than $211 million in public and private investment.

“The state’s Rural Infrastructure Authority sees North Carolina through a lens of opportunity,” Governor Roy Cooper said in a press release. “All of our great state deserves the opportunity to thrive. These grants offer rural areas the resources and support they need to capitalize on their full potential.”

The RIA is supported by the rural economic development team at the North Carolina Department of Commerce. RIA members review and approve funding requests from local communities. Funding comes from a variety of specialized grant and loan programs offered and managed by N.C. Commerce’s Rural Economic Development Division, led by Assistant Secretary for Rural Development Kenny Flowers. Grants support a variety of activities, including infrastructure development, building renovation, expansion and demolition and site improvements.

“These grants are vital to the overall prosperity of North Carolina and its people,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders in a press release. “We are particularly excited to recognize the first recipients of our new Rural Downtown Economic Development Grant program, which serves as yet another tool to support businesses and build stronger communities.”

From this funding, four towns, cities and businesses across the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal’s coverage area have been named recipients across four categories. Continue reading to see how more than $1 million in grants will be put to work in our communities. 

The RIA approved nine grant requests under the state’s Building Reuse Program in two categories: the Vacant Building Category and the Existing Business Building Category. 

Under the Existing Business Building category, a business in Fayetteville, Phillip's Towing Service Inc., is receiving a $120,000 grant that will support the renovation of their 19,080-square-foot building. Phillip's Towing Service Inc. will expand operations by establishing a corporate office here, including a call center to serve Eastern North Carolina. The company expects to create 10 jobs and invest $4,185,931 in this project. Read more on the impact of the grant from the business owner and local reactions from local economic development leadership here. 

The RIA approved 18 grant requests under the state’s new Rural Downtown Economic Development program in three categories: Public Infrastructure, Public Buildings and Mixed Use Downtown Development. Those awarded in the GFBJ coverage area include:

The Town of Carthage in Moore County has been named one of eight recipients for grants from the Public Infrastructure category. The Town is receiving a $512,500 grant that will support the Town's Streetscape Infrastructure Downtown Project, including the first three of a 10-phase pedestrian improvement and parking plan. The project is set to leverage $27,071 in investments.

The City of Lumberton in Robeson County will be receiving funds from the Public Buildings category. A $200,000 grant will support Lumberton’s project, titled “The Carolina Civic Center Historic Theatre - Lumberton's Catalyst for Downtown Revitalization.” The project will rehabilitate the historic building, renovating the lobby and bathrooms, and expanding the event space by 8,295 square feet, ultimately leveraging $2,923,300 in investments.

Town of Roseboro in Sampson County is receiving a $212,500 grant from the Mixed Use Downtown Development category. These funds will support the Growing Downtown Roseboro Roots Building Rehabilitation Project. The project will rehabilitate a building, providing a new commercial space for a small business on the first floor and two, one-bedroom residential units for workforce housing on the second floor. This project is expected to leverage $940,446 in investments.

The Rural Downtown Economic Development Grants program provides grants to local governments to support downtown revitalization and economic development initiatives that are intended to help local governments grow and leverage downtown districts as assets for economic growth, economic development and prosperity by providing public improvements to help retain businesses and leverage main street assets for community-wide use.

Learn more about the North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority on their website here.