MARSTON — Leaders from the state and county said Thursday that Richmond County will get about 50 new factory jobs.
According to Economic Developer Martie Butler, Graceland Portable Buildings, which is based in Kentucky, will run a 100,000-square-foot building on U.S. 1 between Hoffman and the race tracks. This building used to be owned by Woodgrain Distribution.
He said in a statement, “We are glad to see more jobs and investments being made in Richmond County.” „Graceland Portable Buildings is confident in opening its own factory because it has worked with North Carolina contractors before and knows that our state has a skilled staff, good transportation, and low costs for doing business.
A press release from Gov. Roy Cooper’s office and the N.C. Department of Commerce says that Graceland “manufactures, distributes, and installs portable buildings and outdoor storage sheds for various applications.” The release also says that Graceland’s “high-quality designs” can be certified for housing.
“The Marston plant will be a showcase of cutting edge technology and manufacturing methods,” said Michael Derkacy, the COO who will be in charge of the project. “This expansion shows how committed we are to new ideas and makes the portable building industry a better place to work.”
Greg French, CEO of Graceland, said that the company is “thrilled” to take its business to the Tar Heel State.
French said, “This investment shows not only our commitment to growth and innovation, but also our commitment to making high-quality products and giving people in the community meaningful jobs.” “We’re thrilled to be a part of North Carolina’s economy and look forward to making its future brilliant.”
According to the press statement, the company will put $7.4 million into the project and hire 51 people. It is said that the average wage is $43,335 per year, which is a little more than the county average and “create an annual payroll impact of more than $2.2 million for the region.”
“North Carolina continues to bring advanced manufacturers from all fields to every part of the state,” said Machelle Baker Sanders, the secretary of commerce for North Carolina. Sanders was in Richmond County for the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina’s board meeting every three months.
“North Carolina is committed to building up the diverse workforce that growing companies need as they expand and meet demand for their products. It has the largest manufacturing workforce in the southeastern United States.”
A performance-based grant of $150,000 from the One NC Fund was given to the project.
The press statement says, “The One NC Fund helps local governments by giving them money to help bring in business and create jobs.” Companies don’t get paid right away, and they have to meet goals for capital investment and job growth before they can get paid. All One NC funds need local governments to match the grant money, and any award is only given if that condition is met.
The county’s lawmakers in the General Assembly also had something to say about the news.
In a statement, Rep. Ben Moss, R-Richmond, said, “We appreciate the hard work of everyone who helped bring this company to our community.” “We’re looking forward to seeing how they turn the empty space into a busy production hub that will attract other companies to our business community.”
Richmond County is in Sen. Dave Craven’s (R-Randolph) seat. He called the news “great news” for the county and rural North Carolina.
“The addition of these new jobs and investments will make our local economy stronger and help our residents make a living,” Craven said.
The head of the Richmond County Board of Commissioners, Jeff Smart, welcomed Graceland to the county and thanked the company for investing.
Smart said, “We look forward to becoming an important part of their future as they continue to grow.”
The commissioners agreed to the request for a Rural Building Reuse Grant from the Commerce Department on Tuesday.
But at the time, Butler couldn’t say much about the project, not even the name of the company. The name for it was just “Project Rising Sun.”
NC Commerce says that the grant amount will not be more than half of the cost of building or remodeling. The county has to put 5% of the grant amount into the project if the grant is accepted.
Butler said the grant amount would not be more than $500,000 when Commissioner Andy Grooms asked about the county’s spending.
Butler also said that the county will usually pay for the professional services needed to manage the grant. This means that a professional will be hired to make sure everything is done right, which can cost between $5,000 and $10,000.
Butler also said that Graceland will have to pay for the upgrades up front. The Commerce Department will repay Graceland for the grant amount after receiving the money and inspecting the building.
The Rural Infrastructure Authority gives out grants six times a year. Butler said that the board will get together again in October.
In 2021, Direct Pack got a grant to reuse an old house.
Butler told the RO on Thursday, “The grants definitely made a difference.” He said that the project would have gone to Virginia instead of North Carolina because of the incentives. Virginia just recently beat North Carolina as CNBC’s best state for business after two years.
He told the RO that the improvements would begin in the fourth quarter of this year and that hiring would begin in the first quarter of 2025.
She also said that EDPNC was very important in getting the job.
County Manager Bryan Land said in a statement, “We’re thrilled that the property is getting new life and will make the entrance to Richmond County look much better.”