North Carolina Governor Josh Stein announced that the state’s Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved 15 grant requests totaling more than $5.8 million to support economic development projects across rural communities.
The funding is expected to help generate 277 jobs, including 206 new positions, and leverage more than $43 million in combined public and private investment, according to state officials.
“When rural North Carolina wins, all of North Carolina wins,” Stein said. “These grants are strengthening infrastructure, increasing rural economic competitiveness and giving more people the opportunity to have a great job close to home.”
The grants are administered through the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Rural Economic Development Division, which oversees several programs designed to support local governments with infrastructure and site development projects.
Approved funding will support a range of initiatives, including building renovations, facility expansions, demolition projects, infrastructure upgrades and site preparation to attract new businesses.
Several projects were funded through the state’s Building Reuse Program, supporting redevelopment efforts in counties such as Craven, Cumberland, Forsyth, Halifax, Buncombe, Edgecombe and Surry. The projects aim to modernize facilities for business operations and support job creation.
Additional grants from the Industrial Development Fund – Utility Account will fund sewer infrastructure improvements in Nash and Wilkes counties, helping prepare sites for future industrial development.
The initiative also includes downtown revitalization projects in Washington, Longview and Edenton, aimed at improving public spaces and strengthening local economic assets.
North Carolina Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley said infrastructure readiness remains critical for attracting investment.
“Investing in our rural communities is more than infrastructure; it’s providing opportunity,” Lilley said. “With commercial buildings and industrial sites ready to be activated, every corner of the state becomes a place where businesses can grow.”
