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Forsyth County to apply for state building‑reuse grant to support Project Flower; commissioners debate confidentiality
Summary
Forsyth County commissioners considered a resolution to apply to the North Carolina Department of Commerce Building Reuse Grant program to support Project Flower, a botanical production company planning a roughly $3 million headquarters and manufacturing facility in Forsyth County.
Forsyth County commissioners considered a resolution to apply to the North Carolina Department of Commerce Building Reuse Grant program to support Project Flower, a botanical production company that proposes a roughly $3,000,000 purchase and renovation for headquarters and manufacturing in Forsyth County.
Elena Fiore of the county's Community Economic Development Department briefed commissioners on Oct. 6 and said Project Flower '"represents a company specializing in botanical production and manufacturing to create wellness and cosmetic products." She told the board the investment would create about 41 jobs, with an average annual wage around $79,000, and that staff estimates the project would generate about $120,000 in new tax revenue over 10 years.
The state program requires a unit of local government to apply and administer any awarded Building Reuse Grant. Fiore said if the resolution passes Forsyth County would submit the application and, if awarded, pass the funding through to the company.
Commissioners pressed staff on whether the county should disclose the company's identity before the public hearing. One commissioner said that withholding the company's name at briefing "cuts off meaningful public participation" because residents cannot review a company's record between a briefing and the public hearing. County staff told the board that confidentiality requests are common earlier in recruitment and that disclosure is ultimately at the board's discretion.
Board members did not take a formal vote on the grant application during the briefing. Several commissioners suggested the county should consider a formal policy about when to disclose company identities during recruitment and incentive discussions so the public would have time to vet applicants before hearings.
No final action was taken at the briefing; staff stated they would place the resolution on the Thursday meeting agenda for formal consideration and that the county would administer any award if the state grants funds to Project Flower.
