NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE
PROJECT REFRESH
MAY 19, 2020 – 6:00 P.M.
Notice is hereby given that the Burke County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing at 6:00 p.m. (or as soon thereafter as persons may be heard) on Tuesday, May 19, 2020, in the County Board Room, Burke County Services Building, 110 North Green Street, Entrance E, in Morganton, NC or by a virtual software platform if the Governor’s Executive Orders and recommended social distancing practices related to the global pandemic, COVID-19, are still in effect. Citizens may express their opinion(s) during the virtual public hearing by submitting a written statement to the Clerk by 3 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19, 2020 in one of the following ways:
- Email: kay.draughn@burkenc.org
- Hand-delivery: Burke County Governmental Offices, 200 Avery Avenue, (2nd Floor) in Morganton
- US Mail: Burke County, Attn: Kay Draughn, P.O. Box 219, Morganton, NC 28680.
Comments received by the deadline will be read aloud by the Clerk during the virtual meeting. The purpose of the public hearing is to give consideration and approval of expending public funds to assist with rehabilitating the location of Project Refresh, which is located in Burke County (Morganton) via a Building Reuse grant and a local economic development grant which will be the matching funds for a proposed One NC grant from the State of North Carolina. A Building Reuse grant application for $500,000 is being submitted to the State by the County. Burke County and the City of Morganton will provide the 5 percent local match of $12,500 each or $25,000 total. The Company will create at least 100 new jobs by the end of 2022, approximately 226 new jobs over 5 years and invest approximately $18.5 million in new additional tax base. The jobs will meet or exceed the average county wage and will include healthcare benefits. Also, BDI proposes a grant equivalent to 60% of the property taxes paid on the new tax base generated for a period of five (5) years. The Board of Commissioners and the Morganton City Council believe the project will stimulate economic activity, will result in the creation of new jobs, help stabilize and increase the tax base and create additional revenues for both entities.