Rowan County approves incentive package for 'Project Rack', a 258‑job distribution center

Rowan County commissioners voted June 1 to approve an incentive agreement and to authorize the county to apply for a One North Carolina grant on behalf of a prospective distribution employer referred to in presentations as “Project Rack.”

Scott, a representative of the county’s Economic Development Corporation, told the board the company is considering an existing Rowan County building and would invest roughly $41 million in renovations and equipment and create about 258 jobs over three years. The county packet estimated roughly $598,000 of new property tax revenue during the three incentivized years and a proposed incentive calculated as a share of new property tax revenue (packet estimates an incentive cost of about $239,000 over the grant term). Scott also said the company offers a broad benefits package — paid parental leave, adoption reimbursement, multiple health plan options, 401(k) matching, and other voluntary benefits — and discussed community contributions the company typically makes in host communities.

After questions from commissioners about wage levels relative to county averages and the value of benefits, the board moved, seconded, and approved both the incentive agreement and staff’s request to apply for a $150,000 One North Carolina (1NC) grant on the company’s behalf. The public hearing on the incentive yielded no speakers.

The board took the action via voice vote; the meeting record shows the motion and a voice affirmative, but no roll‑call tally was recorded in the transcript. The EDC said it will continue to pursue state grant funding to complement the local incentive.

What passed: authorization for the county to enter the local incentive agreement with Project Rack (three‑year incentive as presented) and to apply for the 1NC grant on the company’s behalf. Implementation details and final grant contract terms remain subject to staff follow‑up.