Projects in rural NC get boost from state grant program

Several municipalities will receive funding from the state to help grow economic development. The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority recently announced the grants, which include several Triad communities.

The state approved 15 grant requests totaling more than $3.8 million.

Those funds will be distributed to local governments to assist with infrastructure projects with the goal of creating new, full-time jobs to help rural communities grow.

The city of Thomasville is one of the biggest recipients. An $825,000 grant will assist the city in providing a sewer extension for a new facility operated by Nucor, a steel manufacturing company.

Four other initiatives in Davidson County will also get a boost. That includes funding for building expansions at some local companies and a mixed-use hangar at a Lexington airport.

Kenny Flowers with Rural Economic Development at the state's Department of Commerce says the benefits of these investments will have a lasting impact.

“All of our programs have a big dose of infrastructure woven throughout them because it's so important," says Flowers. "As we make those investments in rural communities, you know that you've made a more competitive environment in those counties as well as a better opportunity to increase prosperity in those counties as well.”

This comes as metro areas are rapidly expanding in North Carolina, while rural areas are struggling to keep people. 

According to 2020 census data, more than half of the state's counties have lost population in the last decade. This is despite the fact that the overall state population grew by more than 900,000 people.

Follow WFDD's Keri Brown on Twitter @kerib_news