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Morganton approves two $75,000 loans to downtown restaurant Union Grill
Summary
Council approved a $75,000 Main Street restaurant loan and a $75,000 CDBG loan for Union Grill (112 West Union Street). The CDBG loan is tied to a job requirement (5 full‑time or 10 part‑time positions) and one year of monitoring.
The Morganton City Council unanimously approved two loans totaling $150,000 to support a downtown restaurant project at 112 West Union Street.
Finance Director Jesse Deque told the council the Main Street restaurant loan program will provide a $75,000 package aimed specifically at downtown restaurant recruitment; the program uses a half‑loan/half‑grant structure for eligible projects. The council approved a separate $75,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) loan tied to federal entitlement funds; the CDBG loan includes a job requirement the applicant must meet and will be monitored by the city for one year.
Why it matters: Staff said the private investment in the restaurant exceeds the loan amount and the financing is intended to spur downtown economic activity.
A councilmember moved to approve a $75,000 Main Street restaurant loan to Union Grill Inc. and 112 West Union LLC; the motion passed with all members saying "aye." A second motion approving the $75,000 CDBG loan — which staff said requires either five full‑time positions or ten part‑time positions to meet LMI job targets — also passed unanimously.
Jesse Deque said the business is investing roughly double what the city is providing and described the loans as part of an ongoing downtown recruitment program.
