Chuck Heustess meets with the Elizabethtown Town Council recently to discuss economic development matters.
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The Elizabethtown Town Council heard from Bladen County Economic Development Director Chuck Heustess regarding a building re-use grant application during the noon work session on Monday. Heustess told the board that a local industry, whose name he cannot release publicly, is preparing to expand their facility and will be adding about 20 new jobs.
Heustess told the board that the cost for the proposed project is about $800,000 and they will renovate the building they are currently using. He said the company will be applying to the NC Department of Commerce for a building re-use grant. Based on the formula for job creation, the company was willing to commit to creating 20 new jobs which would make the company eligible for a maximum of $200,000 in grant funding. Heustess said the company will invest the remaining funds needed for the project.
Heustess said the company often competes with similar companies and the more efficient they can become, the better chances are of receiving the jobs the bid on.
He aded that small towns with 5,000 citizens or less usually get preferential treatment on these types of grants. “The town is invited to submit the application,” said Heustess.
He said there is a $10,000 for the town but there are various ways that can be met. Heustess said that towns can count their administration of the grant funds towards the match. Heustess stressed that right now, the town is only being asked to be the grant applicant.
In a related matter, Heustess also updated the council on the status of the former Post Office facility located on Broad Street. This building is being renovated to act as an office/small business incubator for the downtown. He said as they begin the refurbishing, it was learned the building had asbestos inside of it and the asbestos had to be removed.
He said that Chris Adams is serving as the architect for the project and plans call from renovating the outside back to its original appearance. Heustess said all of the windows and doors are being replaced and the exterior brick are bing cleaned and restored. He said the interior of the building will be modern. He said the interior will feature three suites which will be large enough to partition into three or four work stations. There will be a shared break room and a shared mail space.
Heustess said the space will be an incubator space only with the goal to help these businesses grow and expand so they can eventually move to other spaces in the downtown area.
He also said that there is a need for industrial buildings in the 10,000 to 15,000 square foot range. Heustess also said the Master Plan for the Elizabethtown Industrial park is completed.
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