Rural Building Reuse Program

The Rural Economic Development Division, authorized under North Carolina General Statutes (N.C.G.S. 143B-472.127), administers a grant program aimed at fostering economic development across the state. The program is specifically designed to support the creation of new, full-time private sector jobs through targeted funding of infrastructure and building renovation projects. It prioritizes assistance to the 80 most economically distressed counties in North Carolina, as well as projects initiated by resident companies under the statutory definition in N.C.G.S. 143B-472(a)(4). This grant opportunity includes two main categories: the Rural Building Reuse Program and the Rural Infrastructure Program. The Rural Building Reuse Program supports three types of projects: renovation of vacant buildings, renovation or expansion of buildings occupied by existing North Carolina businesses, and construction, renovation, or expansion of healthcare facilities that directly result in full-time job creation. In contrast, the Rural Infrastructure Program provides funding for publicly-owned infrastructure such as water, sewer, broadband, electric, road, and rail improvements that are necessary to facilitate new, full-time jobs. To apply, all prospective applicants must first participate in a required pre-application conference call. This involves the submission of specific application pages and proposed dates for the call. For target industry projects, the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) acts as the initial point of contact. EDPNC guides project developers through the early planning stage and refers them to the North Carolina Department of Commerce. Eligible applicants include units of local government in Tier 1 or Tier 2 counties, and in some cases, rural census tracts within Tier 3 counties. The eligibility of a rural census tract is defined by a population density of fewer than 500 people per square mile. The evaluation of proposals is based on several weighted criteria, including geographic location, wage standards, industry classification, job creation numbers, and the level of employer-provided health insurance. Projects in Tier 1 or Tier 2 counties that meet or exceed county wage averages, fall within targeted industries, provide at least 50% employer-paid health insurance, and create substantial full-time employment receive priority consideration. Acceptable expenses include physical improvements to buildings or public infrastructure necessary for job creation. However, many costs such as legal fees, design and engineering expenses, equipment purchases, and renovations for housing or government use are ineligible for funding. Applicants are required to demonstrate that the improvements funded by the grant will result in the creation of new, full-time jobs within 18 months of the grant award. These jobs must be permanent positions of at least 35 hours per week and must meet all unemployment insurance and baseline maintenance requirements. Local governments must act as fiscal agents and are liable for the repayment of grant funds if job creation commitments are not met. A minimum 5% cash match from local sources is required for all projects, and building reuse projects require an additional dollar-for-dollar match up to the total grant amount. The application cycle consists of multiple deadlines throughout the year. For the current cycle, the application deadlines are August 21, 2025; October 23, 2025; January 8, 2026; February 26, 2026; and April 23, 2026. The corresponding award dates follow approximately two months after each submission deadline. For example, applications due on August 21, 2025, will be awarded on October 16, 2025. All applications must include pages 6–10 of the application package, revised according to the pre-application call discussion, and supporting documentation as specified in Tabs 1–5.

Priority given to projects in distressed counties with competitive wages and health benefits; ensure EDPNC referral for target industry projects.