Commission approves county administration of railroad grants to improve industrial site access

The Randolph County Board of Commissioners on July 6 approved staff recommendations to accept and administer two North Carolina Railroad 'build ready sites' grants intended to prepare a privately owned industrial site along Highway 311 South for recruitment.

Crystal Geddes of the Randolph Economic Development Corporation described the public–private partnership with Ace Avant Real Estate (also referenced as Ace Savant). Geddes said a first grant would fund water and sewer infrastructure and an awarded second grant of $500,000 would fund a signalized access crossing Norfolk Southern rail to provide direct Highway 311 ingress and egress. The estimated project costs were described in the presentation; Geddes said the first grant-supported project was about $925,000 and any excess costs would be the responsibility of the property owner.

Geddes told commissioners the grants funnel through the county to the landowner and that agreements will include performance metrics and clawback language to protect the county and the state railroad grant program in case development targets are not met. The grants carry a five-year marketing and performance window with declining repayment obligations over that period; if no client lands on the site within the window, some obligations may be forgiven per program rules.

No members of the public spoke during the public hearing on the matter. After questions from commissioners, a motion to adopt the resolution to accept and administer the North Carolina Railroad grants and approve the associated budget amendment carried with the board’s vote.

The action authorizes the county chairman to sign necessary agreements, and staff said they will work with county counsel to draft an owner agreement assigning any required repayment to the landowner should performance metrics not be met.

Sources: presentation by Crystal Geddes and the commissioners’ motion and vote at the July 6 meeting.