Ashe County, West Jefferson approve incentives for confidential manufacturing project 'Project Pandora'

Ashe County and the West Jefferson Board of Aldermen on Nov. 3 approved local cash incentives tied to a confidential manufacturing project referred to in the meeting as "Project Pandora."

Nick (economic development staff) told both boards the agreement is "just a cash incentive based on capital investment along with job creation," and that many of the specific numbers remain confidential because the state announcement for the project has not yet been made. He said the county's portion in the draft agreement is $390,000 over three years and the town's portion is $300,000 over three years; an Ash County Job Development contribution of $310,000 was also discussed for a two‑year period.

The county opened a joint public hearing on the expenditure of local funds for economic development and closed the hearing after no public commenters spoke specifically to the incentives. Commissioners then moved and seconded approval of the incentive agreement; the public record shows the motion carried by voice vote with the board answering "All in favor," but the transcript does not include a roll‑call tally or individual votes.

County staff and the town said the incentive metrics are tied to specific capital investment and to jobs created above area median income. Nick described parts of the agreement as mirroring other recent incentive agreements the county and town have used and explained that some contractual details are redacted in the draft because the private company has not publicly disclosed them.

The presenters and commissioners said a public announcement may follow once the state or the company formally releases details. No firm timetable for that announcement was provided at the meeting.

Provenance: Topic introduction begins when county economic development staff introduced the incentive and public hearing (00:08:48). Topic finishes after the boards moved and approved the agreement (00:13:26).