Burlington Reporter

Burlington recently received two grants from the state Department of Commerce that will bring 45 jobs and fill two vacant buildings in the city.

The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority, under the purview of the North Carolina Department of Commerce, recently announced 15 awards, a Tuesday release on TheTimesNews.com said. They are part of the state's Building Reuse program designed to help municipal governments renovate and/or expand vacant buildings, buildings occupied by existing North Carolina companies, and health care facilities.

"Through these grants, rural North Carolina communities are solidifying their paths to post-pandemic recovery," Machelle Sanders, secretary of the N.C. Department of Commerce, said in the release. "We are proud to partner with rural counties, cities and towns to help fortify their ability to compete economically on a global scale."

The City is getting $120,000 as a Vacant Building grant that will update a 34,425-square-foot building in Burlington, the release said. Once upgrades are complete, National OnDemand Inc., a technical service provider, will occupy it. That project is expected to create 15 jobs, with the company investing approximately $1.3 million to move in.

A second grant — in the amount of $300,000 — falls in the Rural Health category. It will renovate a 10,000-square-foot building that will be used as a new location for ChenMed LLC, a primary-care provider that caters to the elderly. The project is expected to create 30 jobs, and will include a $1.25 million investment from the company.

"These Rural Infrastructure grants attract new, innovative businesses; allow existing businesses to expand, support health care and bolster water and sewer service in our rural communities," Gov. Roy Cooper said in the release. "All of these investments are key ingredients in creating and sustaining a strong, resilient economy."