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County to match state grant for Chatsworth manufacturer as Project Enterprise vows $15 million local investment, 150 jobs
Summary
After a public hearing, Craven County approved acceptance of a state Rural Infrastructure grant and a local budget amendment to support Project Enterprise’s planned $15 million expansion and promised job creation.
Craven County commissioners voted Aug. 4 to accept a North Carolina Department of Commerce rural infrastructure grant to support Project Enterprise, a Chatsworth-based manufacturer planning a $15 million investment in real estate, machinery and equipment and seeking to expand its workforce.
Jeff Wood of the county’s economic development office told the board Project Enterprise plans to “invest $15,000,000 in real estate, machinery [and] equipment to expand its existing footprint and create over a 150 jobs in 5 years.” He said the Department of Commerce awarded a $100,000 grant and the county is required to provide a 50% match, or $50,000, for the program, and that the grant requires the company to invest at least $9.9 million and create 41 jobs to qualify.
After a public hearing (no members of the public spoke), commissioners approved a related budget amendment as part of a broader economic-development package. In the economic development presentation later in the meeting, staff described the county’s action as acceptance of a $150,000 budget amendment “inclusive of the county match” tied to Project Enterprise; that amendment and other economic development measures passed by roll call.
Discussion: commissioners and staff framed the action as an incentive to retain and expand one of the county’s industrial employers. No conditions or additional performance guarantees beyond the grant’s stated investment and job-creation thresholds were recorded in the public hearing record.
Formal action: The board opened and closed the public hearing, then approved the budget amendment and grant acceptance. The roll-call votes on the economic development measures were recorded as unanimous.
Background: The Department of Commerce and the Rural Economic Development Division fund infrastructure grants that typically require local matching funds and minimum investment and job-creation thresholds. According to county staff, Project Enterprise’s proposed investment exceeds the grant minimums and the company expects to surpass the required job targets.
