Open Grant Program

The North Carolina Department of Commerce's Rural Building Reuse Program is a grant initiative designed to transform older, underutilized buildings in communities into valuable assets for economic growth. This program aligns with a broader mission to attract new businesses, support the expansion of existing North Carolina companies, and foster the development of healthcare entities, thereby creating new, full-time jobs. By revitalizing vacant or underperforming properties, the program aims to stimulate local economies and improve the overall well-being of rural areas within the state. The primary target beneficiaries of this program are local governments in North Carolina, who then act on behalf of businesses and healthcare entities. The program focuses on three main categories: the renovation of vacant buildings, the renovation or expansion of buildings occupied by existing North Carolina companies, and the renovation, expansion, or construction of licensed healthcare entities. The impact goals are centered on job creation, economic development through business attraction and expansion, and improved access to healthcare services in rural communities. Priorities for funding include vacant buildings that have been unoccupied for at least three months. For existing businesses, companies must have operated in North Carolina for at least 12 months, meet weekly wage standards, provide at least 50% employee benefits, and be represented on the Priority Industry Table. In the rural health category, eligible applicants are units of local government in Tier 1 or Tier 2 counties, or rural census tracts in Tier 3 counties, with a priority for towns under 5,000 population in Tier 1 or Tier 2 counties. A key requirement for all categories is a cash match equal to the grant request, with local government contributing at least 5% from local, non-state or federal resources. Expected outcomes include a significant increase in new, full-time jobs, the successful renovation and reuse of older buildings, and the expansion of business operations across the state. Measurable results would involve tracking the number of jobs created, the number of buildings renovated or expanded, the types of businesses supported, and the economic impact on local communities. The program's strategic priorities are clearly linked to fostering economic resilience and growth in rural North Carolina, with a theory of change that posits that by investing in physical infrastructure, the state can catalyze private sector investment, leading to job growth and improved community vitality.