By Erin Smith
The Bladen County commissioners met on Monday night and voted to schedule a public hearing for a proposed shell building. The public hearing will take place on Monday, June 18, at 6:30 p.m.
“This is something that we have been planning for three or four years,” said Bladen County Economic Development Director Chuck Heustess.
Heustess told the board that the proposed shell building will be constructed in the Elizabethtown Industrial Park. The proposed building will measure 26,490 square feet with very few columns in the center of the building. The measurement of the building includes 2,490 square feet which will be dedicated to office space. The building will also feature LED lighting and sheetrock walls in the office spaces. Heustess said the building will also have a high density floor installed. It will not have paint or carpeting installed until the lease agreement is signed. Heustess said that allows the tenant to use their company logos and colors in painting, carpeting, floor tiles, and such.
“The goal is to have it built and finished by early next year,” said Heustess.
He told the board the proposed shell building will cost $1.2 million to construct. The carpeting and other finishing which will come later when the building is leased is estimated to cost $300,000.
Heustess said Four County Electric has expressed an interest in the project and Bladen’s Bloomin’ Agri-Industrial is willing to partner with the County Commissioners for the project. Heustess said the structure of the partnership includes a $900,000 forgivable loan at a 2 percent interest rate. The loan is forgivable up to the value of the economic impact of the project.
He noted the first two shell buildings built in the county were constructed by the Committee of 100 — one is located in Bladenboro and the other in Elizabethtown.
In other business:
*The board approved a request from the Bladen County Board of Education to utilize the schools sales tax allotment for capital outlay projects. The total amount of the request is $33,073.96. 
*The commissioners approved an amended contract with the NC Department of Agriculture and
Consumer Services Division of Soil and Water Conservation regarding stream debris removal.
*The board approved an agreement with Robeson County Health Department regarding a Minority Diabetes Prevention program and approved a professional services agreement with Cape Fear Valley to provide a Family Nurse Practitioner for the Bladen County Health Department.
*The board conducted a public hearing to receive comments regarding the proposed 2018-19 Budget. No one signed up to speak.
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