The North Carolina General Assembly appropriated $10 million to the Golden LEAF Foundation to implement the Golden LEAF Shell Building Pilot Program.

Under this program Halifax County was awarded $27,000 by the Golden LEAF Foundation Board of Directors.

The $27,000 is part of $365,500 for funding for eight projects through the first phase of the program. The other recipients are Ashe, Bladen, Columbus, Franklin, Robeson and Scotland counties.

The $27,000 awarded  to Halifax County will go to develop a preliminary design plan to construct a 40,000-50,000-square-foot shell building located at the Halifax Corporate Park. 

The county expects that construction of a shell building could attract a business that would invest $10,000,000 in private capital and create 100 jobs with an average annual salary of $47,000.

“We are excited to receive stage 1 funding from Golden LEAF, complemented by matching contributions from Roanoke Cooperative, to kick off the initial design and due diligence for a shell industrial building ranging from 40,000 to 50,000 square feet at the Halifax Corporate Park,” said Halifax County Economic Development Director Cathy Scott. “This shell building initiative will enhance our competitiveness by catering to companies in search of readily available industrial spaces and a swift operational start.”

Scott said following the completion of the preliminary design phase, Halifax County will be positioned to seek further financial support for the construction phase of the building.