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Harnett County accepts $500,000 Golden Leaf grant and approves $7.47 million construction contract for corporate area development
Summary
The board approved a $500,000 Golden Leaf grant and awarded a $7,470,000 base bid to Fred Smith Company for the county's corporate area development, authorized a project ordinance amendment to cover higher costs, and was told site work could begin this fall with a two‑year buildout timeline.
Harnett County commissioners voted to accept a $500,000 Golden Leaf grant and to award the base bid for the county's corporate area development project to Fred Smith Company for $7,470,000.
An agency official presenting the item said the grant is nonmatching and will help the county build ready sites intended to host hangars and industrial tenants. "We were awarded that half million dollars for our corporate area development," the agency official said, noting the county had previously set aside about $4.2 million in the project line and identified approximately $2.1 million from related project interest to help fund the work.
The staff report described a bidding irregularity limited to an additive line for a sign; after consulting administration, legal and engineers the county recommended awarding the base bid only. The board approved the award and authorized county staff to execute related documents by voice vote.
To complete the project, staff asked the board to amend the project ordinance to cover higher-than-anticipated costs. The presenter told commissioners the amendment would draw roughly $1,000,000 from capital reserves in addition to the grant and previously budgeted funds; the board approved the amendment.
On timing, staff estimated initial earthwork would begin this fall, with roughly a year required to finish build-ready sites and about another year available for tenants to construct hangars. The presenter also said a manufacturer has shown interest and that some job postings were visible in the area, but no contract with a tenant was finalized at the meeting.
The board approved the grant acceptance, the contract award and the project-ordinance amendment by voice votes (all in favor). The county will return to the board with any required contract documents and implementation details.
