Rocky Mount council approves $500,000 downtown grant for OIC renovation of former Memorial Hospital

The Rocky Mount City Council on April 14 approved a $500,000 downtown major development grant for Opportunities Industrialization Centers (OIC) to renovate the former Memorial Hospital at 224 Rose Street.

The grant was approved by motion of Councilman Horace Walker, seconded by Councilman Richard Joyner; council members Kenny Knight and Councilman Blackwell recused themselves from the matter and those recusals were noted on file with the city. The council voted to authorize the mayor and city clerk to execute the agreement on the city's behalf.

Why it matters: City officials and residents told the council the project would redevelop a longtime vacant landmark in a transitional downtown area and provide behavioral and integrative health services, workforce training and new jobs in an underserved neighborhood.

OIC's presentation: Tyrone Ron Holt, development and construction counsel for OIC, told the council the…