The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority recently approved 15 grant requests to local governments totaling $4,278,230, including awards for the expansion of a building in Cleveland County occupied by Maco, Inc. and the renovation of a building in Madison County occupied by Highland Metal Works, LLC.

The Rural Infrastructure Authority is a 17-member board that awards Rural, Community Development Block Grant, and Utility grant funds, which include the Building Reuse Program and the Industrial Development Fund-Utility Account program.

In the Existing Business Building category, the RIA recently approved the following grant requests in Western North Carolina:

• In Cleveland County: A $160,000 grant that will support the expansion of a building in Shelby occupied by Maco, Inc. The company, which provides welding, machining and structural steel manufacturing processes, plans to add 7,800 square feet to the existing facility. The project is expected to create 20 jobs, with an investment of $485,093 by the company.

• In Madison County: A $125,000 grant that will support the renovation of a 120,000-square-foot building in Mars Hill that is occupied by Highland Metal Works, LLC. The company produces custom-designed and manufactured CNC plasma cutting tables and routers for various industries. The project is set to create 17 jobs, with an investment of $5,100,550 by the company.

Source: Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina