Beaufort County holds required CDBG hearings for economic development and a proposed $5M emergency operations center; commissioners ask for project specifics

Beaufort County staff held two required public hearings to announce the county’s intent to apply for Community Development Block Grant funds: one for economic development and one under the Neighborhood Revitalization program. The economic‑development discussion highlighted a potential above‑ground water storage tank at Chocawinity Industrial Park to increase fire flow for prospective industrial tenants, and staff said they are exploring using CDBG funds to supply a required match for a road‑paving grant.

At the neighborhood‑revitalization hearing staff described a proposed multiuse emergency operations center (EOC) and supporting facilities—EOC space, EMS station (3,000+ sq ft), warehouse and secure climate‑controlled storage—with a draft budget of $5,000,000 (public facilities $4.5M; program administration $500K). Staff said no county match is required for the CDBG application and that project specifics will be developed with county input and returned to the board for the program’s second required public hearing.

Commissioners raised concerns about the Chocawinity industrial site’s zoning status limiting development and urged rezoning before investing in infrastructure. On the EOC proposal, some commissioners questioned the proposed site’s centrality in a county divided by a river and suggested additional public engagement and a siting study to weigh single‑site versus multi‑site approaches. Staff said site selection criteria include access to highways, existing generated power and water, operational footprint and low‑to‑moderate income eligibility for the Neighborhood Revitalization program.

No application was approved at the meeting; staff said they will complete project scopes and return for the second required public hearing and board approval if a grant application proceeds.