Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Burke County, BDI consider using $20 million in state grant flexibility to build shell industrial buildings
Summary
County manager described a new option created by recent General Assembly action to redirect $20 million of an earlier economic development grant to construct shell buildings at Burke Business Park; a project management agreement between BDI and the county will govern joint decisions.
Brian Eppley, Burke County manager, told commissioners the December General Assembly action created flexibility to use $20 million of a previously awarded economic development grant for shell industrial buildings in Burke Business Park.
Eppley said the full grant originally totaled about $35.8 million, of which roughly $13.8 million remains restricted for water and wastewater infrastructure; the legislation opened about $20 million of the unrestricted portion for building construction. "We have $20,000,000, for from that original grant that can be used for, construction of, Shell Industrial Buildings inside Burke Business Park," Eppley said.
County staff described existing pad‑graded sites and some on‑site water and sewer infrastructure that could support rapid, market‑ready development. The property option held by BDI runs through 2033 with an acquisition price of about $32 million; Eppley said unrestricted grant funds alone would not cover acquisition but could fund building construction on county‑controlled pads.
As required by the legislation, the county and BDI are preparing a project management agreement that would set a joint decision‑making framework on questions such as which pad to build on, building square footage, selection of architects and contractors, and maximum allowable incentives. Eppley said the project management agreement is on the work session agenda for further consideration and that staff will return with specific terms and next steps.
The item was left on the agenda for the regular meeting so commissioners can consider the agreement and related actions.
