HAMLET — Richmond County has been awarded funds to help make rail-related improvements at the Energy Way Industrial Park.
Economic Developer Martie Butler said the county will receive $500,000 for site prep and grading for a rail spur at the industrial site on Airport Road south of Hamlet.
The funding is part of the $2 million awarded by the North Carolina Railroad Company through its Build Ready Sites program.
Funding for the program — which prioritizes proposals from rural and economically distressed communities, sites with community backing and support from infrastructure partners — can be used for clearing and grading, as well as extending water and sewer infrastructure, according to NCRR.
“Our Build Ready Sites program is a unique opportunity for counties in North Carolina to receive investment and professional assistance towards preparing sites for new opportunities and businesses,” Carl Warren, NCRR president and CEO said in a press release issued last week. “We’re excited for this year’s recipients and looking forward to the impact these investments will have across the state for years to come.”
NCRR also awarded funding to Nash, Burke and Warren counties as investments “in preparation of future industrial development” aimed to “attract new businesses and support growth for the local communities.”
According to the press release, rail-ready sites “attract new businesses by priming properties for construction without an upfront investment from an interested client.”
“Two million dollars awarded to these four counties is game-changing and meaningful,” Jordan Whichard, chief deputy secretary of the North Carolina Department of Commerce and a member of NCRR’s board, said in the press release. “This level of investment will help prime these locations for future employers and attract additional investments in these communities.”
Site development at Energy Way began in 2019 and it has the potential to bring nearly a dozen new industries to the county, according to Butler.
Rockingham will be providing wastewater services for the site, per an interlocal agreement between the city and county, which was approved by both parties in 2023.
