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Commissioners unanimously approve five‑year incentive grant for "Project Metro"
Summary
The Gaston County Board of Commissioners approved a standard five‑year Level One economic development grant for an existing local employer, Project Metro, after an EDC briefing said the company will invest about $3.4 million and create 15 jobs. The vote was unanimous; no citizens spoke on the item during the public hearing.
The Gaston County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on June 23 to authorize a five‑year Level One incentive grant for "Project Metro," a local employer that told county economic development staff it seeks to expand into a vacant facility in the county.
Lisa Sammy, assistant director of the Gaston County Economic Development Commission, briefed the board before the public hearing: Project Metro has operated in the county for 15 years, is seeking a building reuse opportunity and expects to invest about $3.4 million and create 15 new jobs that will pay at or above the county's average annual wage.
"We've been working with Project Metro for about a year. They were looking at surrounding counties to move out of Gaston County," Sammy said. "This expansion is going to create 15 new jobs paying at the county's average annual wage and they're looking to invest about 3.4 million dollars into the facility."
Board action
Commissioner Bob Hovis made the motion to approve the Level One grant; Commissioner Jim Bailey seconded. The clerk recorded the vote as unanimous.
Context and conditions
Sammy told the board staff is pursuing building reuse grants and that the vacant facility may qualify for brownfield credits; the EDC recommended the county offer its standard five‑year Level One package to help retain the company in Gaston County. The board did not discuss additional or conditional incentives at length in public.
What's next
The economic development office will finalize an agreement with Project Metro and proceed with standard administrative steps to implement the Level One grant. No specific fiscal commitment beyond the standard five‑year incentive structure was detailed on the record.
