Two Randolph County locations selected for grants to boost vacant buildings

Two sites in Randolph County will benefit from approval for grants from the Rural Infrastructure Authority.

Among 15 total grants awarded, Asheboro and Ramseur locations were selected.

The City of Asheboro has been awarded a $500,000 grant to assist in renovation of a building to be occupied by Environmental Air Systems, which recently announced an expansion to Asheboro in a former Klaussner Furniture location. EAS is based in High Point.

Last month’s expansion announcement revealed that EAS has committed to bringing up to 300 jobs as part of the project. At the time, the grant was pending approval.

Town of Ramseur will receive a $175,000 grant to support the reuse of a building.

Earth Retention Industries, Inc., a civil engineering firm, will occupy the building in this company expansion, which is expected to create 21 jobs.

Both of the Randolph County locations selected were under the category of “vacant building” category.

The RIA is supported by the rural economic development team at the North Carolina Department of Commerce. RIA members review and approve funding requests from local communities, according to information from the governor’s office.

The Building Reuse Program provides grants to local governments to renovate vacant buildings, renovate and/or expand buildings occupied by existing North Carolina companies, and renovate, expand, or construct health care facilities that will lead to the creation of new jobs in Tier 1 and Tier 2 counties, as well as in rural census tracts of Tier 3 counties.

In the region, grants were also designated to Rowan County and the City of Albemarle in Stanly County under the “rural health building” category.