Union County approves contracts and funding steps for 'barn' food innovation center at Wingate site
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Summary
The board authorized the county manager to negotiate and execute agreements and adopt capital project ordinances and a budget amendment to move forward with the Union County Food Innovation Center ("the barn"), including a land lease with Wingate University, several state and foundation grants, and a March 31 groundbreaking if contracts are executed.
Union County commissioners voted to authorize execution of construction contracts and related capital project amendments for the Union County Food Innovation Center, commonly called "the barn," moving the project into a construction phase with a planned groundbreaking.
Deputy County Manager Patrick Nylund told the board the project has progressed over more than five years and will be sited on 12 acres owned by Wingate University, with the county leasing the rear six acres for the facility. "This is off Austin Chaney Road for the Wingate Interchange," Nylund said during his presentation, and he described the overall concept as approximately 200,000 square feet of advanced manufacturing/logistics space to support local businesses.
Nylund outlined the funding package: a $5,000,000 state economic development grant; a roughly $1,800,000 contribution from the town of Wingate to extend roads and utilities; a $1,000,000 offer from Golden Leaf for specialty equipment; and an award of $453,000 from NCDAFP with optimism for an additional award in the next cycle. He said county funds and redirected capital projects also provide county support.
"If the contract is approved, we'll have a groundbreaking on March 31, and construction should begin sometime in April, anticipated completion June 2027," Nylund said. The agenda also sought authority to execute an intergovernmental agreement with the Town of Wingate to administer the facility and to adopt multiple capital project ordinances and a budget amendment as listed in the agenda.
Commissioner Merrill moved the authorization, asking the county manager to negotiate and execute an agreement substantially consistent with the agenda and to enter the intergovernmental agreement with the town. Merrill's motion also listed several capital project ordinances and a budget amendment to provide the necessary funding, and the board approved the motion by voice vote.
The board's action authorizes staff to finalize contracts and begin construction procurement steps; staff will return with executed agreements and any further capital project ordinances or amendments as required by law and county procedure.
Next steps: staff to execute agreements, coordinate with Wingate University and the Town of Wingate, and proceed to groundbreaking if contractual conditions are met.