Commissioners approve up to $223,000 to secure Taseya Energy manufacturing investment; vote 4–1

The Rockingham County Board of Commissioners on April 6 approved up to $223,000 in local incentives to help secure Project Parrot, a Taseya Energy manufacturing facility officials say will bring roughly $24,000,000 in capital investment and about 158 jobs.

Lee Cochran, who presented the project during a public hearing, said the company will produce energy transformers and voltage meters and that the proposed facility would be Taseya’s first U.S. manufacturing site. "This project will bring $24,000,000 of new investment to Rockingham County as well as 158 jobs with an average wage of $67,000," Cochran said. She told commissioners the package is subject to a performance agreement and that the project team will pursue a building reuse grant of up to $500,000 from the Rural Infrastructure Authority, with a 5% local match split equally with the city of Eden.

No members of the public spoke during the hearing. Commissioner Kellum moved to approve the appropriation and Commissioner Hall seconded the motion. The board voted to approve the incentive, with the chair recording the final vote as 4–1 in favor.

Cochran described a multi‑partner effort that included state and regional officials and local colleges to prepare the site and workforce. She said the company, which Cochran noted is formalized in Delaware, already supplies large utilities and intends to locate its first U.S. factory in Rockingham County.

The board’s action authorizes county staff to proceed under the terms of the performance agreement; Cochran said additional state and local incentives and grant applications would follow to support site renovations and workforce training. The board did not hear additional public comment before taking the vote.