ROCKINGHAM — Two state grants have been awarded to help with tourism and economic development in Richmond County.
Public Works Director Jerry Austin — filling in for County Manager Bryan Land — announced to the Richmond County Board of Commissioners Tuesday that grants have been awarded to Rockingham Speedway and the Richmond County Airport.
Austin said the county was notified last week of a $1.65 million reimbursement grant for Rockingham Speedway from the Major Events, Games and Attractions Fund through the N.C. Department of Commerce to be split proportionately between race promoter Track Enterprises and track owner Rockingham Properties — granted all conditions are met — for NASCAR’s return on Easter weekend.
According to N.C. Commerce, the fund was “established by the North Carolina General Assembly to stimulate economic activity by attracting events that can, in turn, attract out-of-state visitors to North Carolina, strengthening the state's travel and tourism industry.”
Monies for the fund come from the tax on legal sports gambling.
Stewart Friesen rolls down the frontstretch at Rockingham Speedway during an organizational test, prepping for the Black's Tire 200 on April 18.
William R. Toler - Richmond Observer
A major event has to meet several conditions — including only being held once a year — and take place at a venue that seats at least 22,000 and has to be sponsored by either NASCAR, the PGA, LPGA, PGA Tour or USGA.
Finance Director Cary Garner told the RO that the grants are for 50% of pre-approved expenditures and “promoters are not eligible for any of these funds until after the event has taken place.”
Following the event, receipts have to be verified by an independent CPA licensed in North Carolina and then forwarded to the county finance department, as the county “acts as the fiduciary between DOC and the promoters,” Garner said. Once the receipts have been reviewed, they will be sent to Commerce for funding.
In late 2021, the state allocated $9 million to the county “for water and sewer and related infrastructure projects” at the Speedway.
Late last year, the track received $300,000 — from funds that had previously been set aside for a pedestrian bridge — for continued improvements. Rockingham Dragway received $1.7 million from that allocation.
RO file photo
Austin also said the county had been awarded a $1.135 million grant from the N.C. Department of Transportation Division of Aviation for the construction of a 55,000-square-foot hangar that will house an out-of-state business that is relocating to the airport.
That business is J&M Aviation based out of Middlebury, Vermont, which specializes in aircraft painting, repair and servicing.
According to Austin, the company is planning to provide nine new jobs with an average salary of $46,800. J&M Aviation also has plans to expand “down the road,” constructing an airplane painting facility.
“They're looking to get started as soon as we get this hangar built,” Austin said, adding that the new company will “open up a lot of traffic at our airport.”
Austin said that Moore County has an aviation maintenance facility, “but they stay booked up so much.”
Chairman Dr. Rick Watkins said the grants are “extremely important” and the county is pleased and fortunate “to have an opportunity to receive those.”
“I’ve said for a long time that our airport and the future of our county and its economic development really depends on our ability to get …larger planes in and out of that airport, and it will pay dividends for us in the future,” Watkins said.
“Through grant funds, it doesn’t cost Richmond County taxpayers a dollar,” Watkins added. “And we’re able to move some things forward and move the needle for our county.”
Anna Auman, telecommunicator with the Richmond County 911 Center, beta tests a new screen.
RO file photo
During the monthly report, Austin also played a feature story from UNC-TV’s “N.C. Impact” on Richmond County’s 911 Center and Richmond Community College’s 911 Communications & Operations program.
Watkins thanked Emergency Services Director Bob Smith and his staff for the work they do.
“The 911 Center in Richmond County is truly amazing, it’s state-of-the-art,” Watkins said. “What a lot of people may not understand is that when many counties to the east of us, in the event of a hurricane or when 911 systems go down, those calls are routed to Richmond County and we handle that and take the burden.
“The work that goes on there is truly, truly amazing.”
Watkins also praised the college’s training program, saying it was a credit not only to the 911 team but to the county.
“And our citizens can feel safe and comfortable knowing that a competent communicator is going to answer that phone if they dial 911,” Watkins added.
Earlier in the meeting, commissioners voted to rescind the prior Animal Control Ordinances and adopt the new Animal Control Rules.
Dr. Tommy Jarrell, special projects coordinator, explained the reason for the change is that Animal Control now falls under the Health Department instead of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.
The only major changes to document were related to that switch and include: replacing “ordinance” with “rule;” replacing “Animal Enforcement Deputy” with “Animal Control Deputy;” replacing the sheriff with the health director;” changing “civil citation” to “administrative citation” and aligning appeals with the public health process rather than criminal.
Next month, the board will hold a public hearing on the closure and abandonment of a 15-foot unimproved portion of Covington Street.
