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County commits up to $800,000 to support EDA utility grant for Pisgah/Pisco Labs; commissioners update infrastructure spending plan
Summary
The board approved an interlocal with the City of Brevard to accept a $2.4 million EDA grant to extend utilities to Pisco/Pisgah Labs, with the county agreeing to hold the design contract and to fund up to $800,000 of any cost overrun. Commissioners also approved updated NCDEQ 'at-risk' projects and a county insurance-deductible authorization for storm repairs.
The Transylvania County Board of Commissioners approved an interlocal agreement with the City of Brevard that will allow the city to accept a $2.4 million U.S. Economic Development Administration grant to extend municipal utilities to Pisco/Pisgah Labs and other nearby parcels. The county agreed to hold the engineering/design contract, allow the city to hold the construction contract, and commit up to $800,000 to cover project costs above the $2.4 million estimate.
Manager Jamie Otter said the city proposed conditions to accept Pisco Labs as a utility customer outside the city ETJ under a special agreement that delays annexation and city tax revenue. The manager said the county would waive any expectation of revenue sharing from the project so the city receives full utility revenue from the new customer. He also noted the county has an initial investment commitment from Pisco Labs of $50,000,000 and an expected initial job count of about 50 positions, while acknowledging future customers along the extension could tap into the line.
Commissioners asked whether the city is contributing to the overage risk; Otter said the city is not putting up additional money and that the county would fund any overage. The manager recommended drawing down state-allocated funds set aside for county infrastructure before using fund balance.
In the same meeting, commissioners approved an updated set of projects to spend NCDEQ 'at-risk' funds (projects must be spent by the end of 2026). The package includes the Brevard–Rosman interconnect, ongoing US‑64 water and sewer expansion (turned over to Rosman), a Boys & Girls Club sewer project, a watershed study and stormwater improvements that support the planned courthouse. Otter said staff believe the listed projects can be completed within the deadline.
Separately, the board approved setting aside up to $200,000 from fund balance to pay insurance deductibles for county facility repairs related to the storm so repairs can begin while claims and reimbursements are processed.
Next steps: the county will refine the project budget by hiring an engineer, coordinate with Brevard on documentation required by the EDA grant, and return with final project numbers; staff will also proceed with NCDEQ projects and continue capital planning for water resources.
