Board approves Stocks Engineering contract; economic-development retail study presented

The Northampton County Board of Commissioners approved a design and engineering contract with Stocks Engineering for a force-main sewer line to support the Commerce Park, and county staff presented a proposed $25,000 commercial and retail recruitment study from Retail Strategies for future consideration.

Economic developer Mister Bennett told the board that the Stocks Engineering contract—about $139,000—will be paid using Golden Leaf site-infrastructure grant funds and will not require a county match. The contract covers design and engineering of the force main sewer off Lebanon Church Road to support industrial development at the Commerce Park. A motion to approve the Stocks Engineering contract was made, seconded and approved by voice vote; the chair recorded the motion as carried.

Bennett also presented a contract and brochure from Retail Strategies, a private consulting firm based in Alabama, to perform a 12-month commercial and retail assessment for Northampton County at a cost of $25,000. Bennett said the work aligns with the county’s strategic plan and that the firm will both analyze retail trade patterns and assist with business recruitment; he said the funds for the study were budgeted in the 2025 economic-development line item and would not require a supplemental appropriation. Commissioners asked whether other firms were considered and whether local firms had been solicited; Bennett said two other firms were contacted and that Retail Strategies was highly recommended by state counterparts and has prior examples of work in Tennessee and North Carolina.

Board members requested that Bennett and finance staff confirm the specific line-item balance before formal execution; the retail study was presented for consideration and was not approved at this meeting beyond the Stocks Engineering contract.