RALEIGH — Gov. Josh Stein announced state investments of more than $1 billion aimed at boosting infrastructure and economic development in rural North Carolina communities, including project funding in Catawba and Caldwell counties.
The funding includes economic development grants for building renovations in the city of Claremont and the city of Lenoir to support expanding manufacturing operations.
Stein emphasized the impact of funding infrastructure and job growth in rural regions across the state.
“North Carolina is full of strong rural communities and great people,” Stein said in Thursday’s news release. “These grants will help them make important improvements, strengthen local infrastructure, create good-paying jobs and bring new investments to the places people call home.”
In Catawba County, the city of Claremont is receiving a $500,000 grant to support facility renovations for Prysmian Cables and Systems USA. The company manufactures a wide range of cable applications for the energy and telecom cable systems industry, Stein said.
The Claremont grant supports an investment of $2,041,072, with 110 jobs directly tied to the state funding. Overall, the Prysmian expansion project is expected to create 385 jobs.
In Caldwell County, the city of Lenoir is receiving a $186,000 grant for building renovations. The funding will support work on a 103,102-square-foot facility to be occupied by Chase Corporation.
Chase Corporation manufactures protective materials, including industrial coatings, tapes, adhesives and sealants, for a variety of industries. The Lenoir development project involves an investment of $233,274 and is expected to create 37 jobs.
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