Both, however, in board agenda material, are listed as manufacturing companies. One, dubbed Project Chips, is slated for construction outside Roanoke Rapids, and is expected to create 16 new jobs, she said.
The other, dubbed Project Sunshine, is slated for construction in the Halifax Corporate Park off Highway 561, and is expected to create 155 jobs. Scott did say this project would be constructed on the site of the former Empire Foods location, which became ensnared in legal issues and was never completed.
Scott first went over details of Project Chips, which is expected to make a taxable investment of $48,252,400 within three years of its location in the county and offer wages more than the current weekly wage for the county. The average county wage is $14.62 per hour while Project Chips is expected to bring an average wage of $18.43 per hour, she told the board.
The project is subject to an economic development incentive grant agreement of $700,000 payable in installments over a five-year period, the resolution on the matter says.
According to the agreement, the county will provide the incentive grant to assist the company in the location of its manufacturing operations. Subject to the job creation and job retention and subject to the ad valorem taxable investment creation and retention requirements the county would pay $140,000 on January 15 over five years.
The company must also hit real estate, machinery and equipment and ad valorem tax marks, which are outlined in the table below.
If the company fails to create at least 90 percent of the cumulative number of jobs no grant payment will be made.
The same applies to ad valorem taxable investment goals.
Meanwhile, the board discussed details of the Project Sunshine matter in closed session before ultimately coming out and approving the deal.
Both matters also required public hearings.
In the Project Sunshine proposal, commissioners were asked expend funds for the construction of a 50,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in the amount of $1.5 million.
According to the notice of public hearing on the matter, the county intends to approve a five-year lease with a five-year renewal and option to purchase approximately 20.89 acres. The fair market lease value of the land of the property is estimated to be $108,000 and the annual lease payments the company will make is $1 per year. If certain conditions are met the company will have the option to purchase the property, according to the notice.
According to a resolution on the matter, the county is also in negotiations for the conveyance of 13.86 acres located next to the facility.
The company, Scott said, is expected to create 155 jobs over three years which will exceed the average weekly wage for the county.
During the public hearing on the matters, Scotland Neck resident James Mills spoke on both projects.
On Operation Chips he said $700,000 for 16 jobs didn't sound like a good investment. “The only way we will grow is to look at something with high yield and employment. It should be something of substance. This sounds like another flop.”
On the Operation Sunshine proposal, Mills asked what happened to Empire Foods and a curtain company once planned in Littleton. “I'm for economic development that makes sense. Why would we want to give away $2.2 million? It's just not smart.”
Roanoke Rapids resident Terry Buffaloe said there was not “enough full disclosure” for the board to make a decision. “We need more information to inspire confidence.”
Scott said she would like to provide more information. “I wish I could tell the public everything but when the state has incentives, we're not allowed to trump the governor.”
