The Gastonia City Council on Oct. 7 approved economic development incentives for two projects: a level‑1 investment grant for an existing facility expansion and an offer of a level‑3/4 incentive framework for a larger new facility branded in the record as Project Willow.

Christy Crisp, the city’s director of economic development, presented the smaller request first. She said the existing company in Gastonia Technology Park plans to invest $4.1 million to expand its facility. “This is a 5‑year, level 1 grant,” she told the council, and staff presented a municipal grant amount of $47,712. Council approved the resolution and directed legal staff to finalize agreement details.

Crisp then presented Project Willow, a development proposed in South 321 that would annex into the city and become a water‑and‑sewer customer. “This is a $71,000,000 project and that's broken down between $52,000,000 in machinery and equipment and $19,000,000 in the construction of the facility,” Crisp said. She reported the company expects 117 new jobs with an average annual salary exceeding $104,000. Gaston County commissioners had approved a related package in June.

Council approved offering Project Willow either a level‑3 or level‑4 local incentive, with the final level to be determined by the project's verified investment. Crisp and the city attorney said the economic development agreement will include annexation and enforceable provisions to require the company to annex and connect to city utilities; staff described specific‑performance and clawback clauses as tools to enforce commitments if the company fails to annex or meet agreed obligations.

Council members asked whether the facility would also be an electric customer (staff said the proposed site is not served by the city’s electric utility and that electric service would be provided by the existing regional provider). Council moved and voted to close the public hearing and approve staff authority to negotiate the final agreement; the motions carried unanimously.

Economic development staff said public incentives are paid as reimbursements after tax revenue begins to be received, and that county incentives had already been approved for Project Willow.

The council’s votes allow city staff and legal counsel to finalize incentive agreements and annexation language and return with executed documents to implement the projects if terms are met.