Craven County Board authorizes CDBG application to support HDPE expansion, cites 30 job goal

Craven County commissioners voted March 2 to authorize submission of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Economic Development application to support site preparation for HDPEexpansion at 1140 Clarks Road.

Kate Fursinger of Insight Consulting Services, on behalf of county planning staff, told the board the application would seek up to $2,500,000 to fund site improvements and site-preparation work. She said the project is expected to enable HDPE to expand from its Industrial Drive location and that the county estimates the expansion would create roughly 30 jobs.

Assistant planning director Jason Frederick and Fursinger said engineering cost estimates and site-improvement maps were finalized before the hearing so the application could be submitted in a complete form. Fursinger asked the board to adopt a resolution authorizing the county manager to submit and execute the application.

The board opened a public hearing for the application, heard no speakers, and approved the resolution by roll call. The resolution authorizes submission of the CDBG Economic Development application and delegates authority to the county manager to sign application documents.

The vote authorizes staff to proceed with the application; final award decisions would come later from the program administrator, and any grant award would be subject to applicable state requirements and contract terms.

What happens next: staff will submit the application as authorized and, if the county receives an award, return to the board with specific contract terms, conditions and any required local match.