Newton Council approves sale and economic deal for Windak expansion, citing $2.5M investment and 11 new jobs

The Newton City Council on March 5 approved an economic development agreement and a real estate purchase agreement that will allow Windak, Inc. to buy seven city-owned parcels on Whitten Lane for a proposed 25,000–30,000-square-foot production facility. Nathan Huret of the Catawba County Economic Development Corporation told the council the package is intended to secure Project Tallinn, an expansion by a cable-industry machinery firm that would relocate 20 existing local jobs and create at least 11 new positions.

The agreements approved by the council set the sale price at $170,000 — below the parcels’ tax value of $339,600 — and tie city incentives to performance benchmarks including a minimum $2.5 million capital investment and the creation of the 11 jobs by the end of 2026. Huret described the building as including a two-story office and a large training room, and said the new jobs are expected to pay at or above the county average of $52,172.

The council adopted the Economic Development Agreement and authorized the mayor to sign the Real Estate Purchase Agreement; both votes were unanimous. City Manager Sean Hovis presented staff’s recommendation during the public hearing that followed a presentation of background on the parcels, which were donated to the city in 2017 and total about 9.57 acres.

Nathan Huret said a formal public hearing was held to meet the requirements of North Carolina General Statutes 158-7.1 because a public hearing had not been held when the property was originally accepted. The agreements include milestones and a closing timeline: the purchase closing is to occur on or before 120 days from EDA approval, per the purchase agreement terms presented to council.

Council members did not record additional conditions beyond the EDA’s investment and job-creation requirements. The agreements and associated documents are on file in the City Clerk’s office.