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Thomasville council adopts budget amendment, approves Unilin building reuse and ICMA mobility grants
Summary
Council approved Budget Amendment 2026-P2-01 and passed ordinances to accept a $350,000 state building reuse grant for Unilin plus a $341,500 ICMA Senior Mobility Leaders grant funded by the Gates Foundation; motions passed unanimously.
The Thomasville City Council on Aug. 18 unanimously approved a set of budget and grant actions intended to support local economic development and mobility initiatives.
Finance Director Thomas Avant presented Budget Amendment 2026-P2-01, which appropriated $17,500 from general fund contingency for the city's matching costs to administer the Unilin 'Atlantis B' building reuse grant, $99,015 (with $64,015 transferred from contingency) toward the city's contribution to the ICMA Senior Mobility Leaders in Government grant project, and $9,480 in grant funding from the North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police for personnel software to assist the police department's accreditation process. Avant said the city's general fund contingency would remain at $318,485 after these allocations.
Council then approved the Unilin 'Atlantis B' Grant Project Ordinance, establishing a project budget of $367,500 that includes a $350,000 state grant and a $17,500 city contribution to support Unilin's construction and expansion of its manufacturing facility in Thomasville. Council Member Scott Styers moved to approve the ordinance and Council Member JacQuez Johnson seconded; the motion passed 5-0.
Deputy City Manager Eddie Bowling presented the ICMA Senior Mobility Leaders in Government grant ordinance, a $341,500 award funded by the Gates Foundation to place a special assistant to coordinate cross-sector partnerships and advance seven pillars of economic mobility: education and skill development; employment and workforce opportunities; income and financial stability; health and well-being; housing and neighborhoods; social capital and community networks; and equitable government and policy. Council Members Neal Grimes and JacQuez Johnson praised efforts to secure the grant; Mayor Raleigh York noted the award follows the city's successful completion of prior ICMA projects. The ordinance passed 5-0.
Outcome and next steps: Council approved the budget amendment and both grant ordinances unanimously; departments will implement the projects per the approved grant project ordinances and report back as required by grant terms.
