| 117th Year, 53rd Issue | Thursday, August 10, 2006 | Sparta, North Carolina |
Town Manager Bryan Edwards informed council members the Town of Sparta has been awarded a $500,000 supplemental through a North Carolina Economic Infrastructure Program during its Aug. 1 meeting at town hall. The grant program is operated by the N.C. Rural Center.
In addition, a $975,000 grant was awarded toward the project last year. Local funding for the project in the amount of $86,000 is required for the grants, said Edwards. The total estimated cost of the project is set at around $1.56 million. Edwards said he anticipates the work will begin within 60 to 90 days and the project will be completed in early 2007.
"There are two ways to help create jobs here in the county. One way is to recruit new businesses and the other is to help our existing businesses grow," said Edwards. "We have made helping our local businesses expand a priority."
Edwards pointed to a recent deal with NAPCO and Charleston Forge as an example. A town water line extension to NAPCO is slated to be completed this week as part of that deal, which will now offer service to a Charleston Forge facility in the old NAPCO plant. NAPCO has now moved into the former Springford Knitwear building on Trojan Avenue in Sparta. Edwards also noted that local officials have helped Tri-State Components and Hometown Fuel by building an entrance for those businesses off N.C. 18.
"We're going to continue doing all we can," said Edwards. "That's a very productive avenue for us—helping our current businesses. It's a very competitive market for us in trying to recruit new businesses to our rural mountain county."
Edwards explained to council members that the town had applied in
June for the grant that would extend water and sewer services along
the U.S. 21 corridor south of Sparta. While the purpose of the
extension is to provide services to two businesses owned by Clint
Bedsaul, BCB Trucking and TruLine Truss, other property owners may
also benefit from the move.
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