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Council approves matches for Commerce Park gas-line extension and pad site; votes split on pad-site funding
Summary
Beaufort County approved committing county site-and-jobs funds as 50% local matches for two state site-enhancement grant applications: a natural-gas extension (passed by roll call) and a pad site (passed after roll call, narrower margin). Both awards are contingent on state grant approvals and county funds would only be spent if grants are awarded.
Beaufort County Council voted Nov. 10 to support two Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) grant applications that would pair county site-and-job funds with state site-enhancement grants to improve the Beaufort Commerce Park.
EDC executive director John O’Toole and staff presented two items: a proposed extension of a natural-gas line into the park (county share to match a state grant; cited $130,000 budget with a $65,000 state match) and construction of a pad site to speed future development (approximate total cost $400,148; county match $200,074). EDC staff said the projects are designed to make parcels “shovel-ready” and to attract employers; staff noted prospective interest from an out-of-state company evaluating a lot at the end of the extended gas line.
Council approved the gas-line matching resolution in a roll-call vote (recorded as 9–2). The pad-site resolution passed by roll call (7–4). Council members stressed the grants are contingent on state awards and that county funds would only be expended if the state grants are received.
What this means: If the state awards the site-enhancement grants, the county will provide the local matching funds required by the program; the pad site is intended to lower the time and cost for a company to build, which EDC said has in other cases produced significant private investment.
Votes and next steps: Staff will proceed to finalize applications and only draw county funds if the state grants are awarded; council asked staff to provide purchase or sale terms if land transactions are part of a future deal.
