BAKERSVILLE – The Mitchell County Economic Development Commission’s “Project Topaz” was approved this past week and will help bring a dental clinic to Bakersville.
The award was announced in a letter dated Dec. 12 sent to Mitchell County Board of Commissioners chair Danny Burleson from North Carolina Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary for Economic Development Kenny Flowers.
The $45,622 Building Reuse Grant will support the reuse of a 1,620-square-foot building in Bakersville where Mountain Community Health Partnership plans to open a dental clinic.
The project is set to create seven jobs and attract $290,669 in private investment, according to Gov. Roy Cooper.
The grant was one of 12 North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority grants awarded to local governments and one of 11 grants awarded under the state’s Building Reuse Program totaling more than $4.1 million statewide.
“A focus on rural areas makes sure all North Carolinians have a healthier, better life and a key to that is building and strengthening infrastructure,” Cooper said in a press release. “Rural Infrastructure Authority grants help pay for challenges rural areas must address to grow jobs and improve quality of life.”
The Building Reuse Program provides grants to local governments to renovate vacant buildings, renovate or expand buildings occupied by existing North Carolina companies, and renovate, expand or construct health care facilities that will lead to the creation of new jobs in Tier 1 and Tier 2 counties and in rural census tracts of Tier 3 counties.