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Wilkes County approves Economic Investment Agreement with Bevara after public hearing
Summary
Wilkes County Commissioners approved an Economic Investment Agreement with Bevara (Project Pressure) that reimburses up to 80% of county property taxes paid by the company over five (potentially six) years tied to capital investment and a jobs commitment of 92 positions over five years. The board approved the measure unanimously after a public hearing where residents raised transparency and resource concerns.
Wilkes County’s Board of Commissioners voted unanimously June 16 to approve an Economic Investment Agreement with Bevara (Project Pressure), a company the county and the Town of Wilkesboro have each negotiated agreements with to encourage local investment.
County Attorney Tony Triplett summarized the terms to the board and public: the agreement requires capital investment goals that escalate to $19.6 million by year six and includes a jobs commitment of 92 positions over five years. Triplett said the agreement would reimburse the company for 80% of the county property taxes it pays, for a period of five years with a possible sixth-year payment if investment thresholds are met, and payments are made only after Bevara pays its tax bill. As Triplett explained, the structure “means there isn't a need for a claw back because if they don't meet their goal, the County just simply pro rates their payment.”
The company has already purchased the former Goodnight Brothers Produce facility at 1601 Industrial Drive in the Wilkesboro Industrial Park. LeeAnn Nixon, with local economic development, told commissioners the facility’s water demand would be modest — she compared it to a country ham operation and estimated daily usage in the low thousands of gallons at most, depending on operations. Nixon said that, “it's no more than Suncrest Farms…probably 2,000 or 3,000 gallons of water a day” at maximum continuous operation.
During a public hearing preceding the vote, several residents urged more transparency and sought technical details, including daily water and electricity use, the company’s ownership and long-term workforce plans. Curtis Johnson told the board, “A lot of people didn't even know about this until a few weeks ago,” and other commenters warned about national trends concerning hyperscale data centers and resource strain.
Chairman Hardin Kennedy and staff said the Town of Wilkesboro had already conducted a public notice and that Wilkesboro’s agreement mirrors the county’s except for payment amounts. The motion to approve the Economic Investment Agreement was made by Commissioner Bill Sexton, seconded by Commissioner Shirley Randleman, and carried unanimously. The county will monitor job and investment targets and prorate payments if benchmarks are not met.
