Governor Beverly Perdue will be at the Halifax-Northampton Regional Airport Thursday at 2 p.m. for what county Economic Development Director Cathy Scott called a major economic development announcement.

Scott declined to say in email correspondence what the announcement would entail.

She did say an early statement would be released Thursday morning.

What is known is commissioners at their first meeting of the month approved construction of a shell building in the corporate near the airport on Highway 561.

A manufacturing company the county is negotiating with is interested in the building, which the county agreed to pay no more than $1.5 million to construct.

In a matter related to the company, commissioners approved applying for Golden Leaf funds to provide equipment financing for the firm, which Scott told commissioners was in food technology.

The county is seeking $1 million from the Golden Leaf Foundation, Scott said, but can realistically expect to receive $700,000 to $800,000.

The airport is located at 700 Gregory Farm Road outside Halifax.