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Alleghany County wins $2.8 million DEQ grant to rebuild transfer station, expand recycling
Summary
Alleghany County announced a preliminary $2.8 million award from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality to fund construction of a new transfer station, conversion and stabilization work at the existing site, and recycling modernization; county officials said the grant will substantially reduce the project's cost to residents.
Alleghany County officials announced that the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality has preliminarily awarded the county $2.8 million to rebuild its transfer station and expand recycling operations.
Rahel Bizzell, the county's grant writer, read a notice from DEQ saying the county's Helton Recovery Recycling Infrastructure grant proposal was selected "for a total of 2.8 million dollars in funding." The award covers site preparation, paving and drainage; conversion work on the existing transfer station including retaining walls and slope stabilization; and recycling upgrades such as collection bins, material-handling areas, a spent-refrigerator tank, a shingle collection area and a skid steer, the county said.
County officials said the work will also fund engineering and construction administration services. According to the presentation, completing the described work without grant support would have required charging each household about $1,145; the county said the DEQ award eliminates that per-household charge and sharply reduces the county's funding need for an estimated $6'7 million project.
"We are pleased to announce our decision to preliminarily award your Helton Recovery Recycling Infrastructure Grant Proposal for a total of 2.8 million dollars in funding," Bizzell read from the DEQ letter. County leaders said they have since applied for an interest-free loan and committed $1.5 million from the general fund; additional financing and potential loan terms remain under discussion.
County Manager Bobby said the grant will allow the county to proceed without adding the previously estimated per-household charge and thanked the grant team for their work pulling together data and application materials.
Officials also said the project includes converting the existing transfer station facilities and modernizing recycling operations to increase material collection and handling capacity. The county indicated some additional funding will still be required before full construction can begin.
Next steps include finishing remaining financing work, pursuing supplemental loans or grants as needed, and moving forward with design and permitting; no construction start date was announced.
The announcement came during a regular Alleghany County Board of Commissioners meeting where commissioners also handled routine business and other agenda items.
