The Pitt County Board of Commissioners has approved incentive packages expected to generate $408.5 million in economic investment and more than 400 jobs if the companies follow through on plans.
The commissioners unanimously voted to increase the economic incentives offered to Grover Gaming, a Greenville-based firm that develops software, game content, and gaming systems.
“This is a growing existing industry that we hope will continue to grow in Pitt County,” Economic Development Director Kelly Andrews said.
She sought an incentive equivalent to 50 percent of the net increase in ad valorem taxes paid by the company for a five-year period with a cap of $150,000.
Andrews said the incentive is contingent upon the company investing $8.5 million in real and personal property and the creation of 200 new jobs.
Mark Downing, general counsel for Grover Gaming, thanked the county for its continued support.
“This project has expanded to include further investments and expansions that are not incentivized by the county,” Downing said. He asked that the incentive be increased to 60 percent of the net increase in ad valorem taxes paid by the company over a six-year period.
Downing said County Manager Janis Gallagher and Andrews supported the change, which they confirmed.
The commissioners approved the 60 percent incentive over six years.
Although details of the expansion were not provided, the company has been expanding in the Ayden area. Plans to build a campus on Charles Boulevard in Greenville have not materialized.
The other economic development project, named Project Bluefin, is for a life sciences industry, Andrews said.
The company wants to acquire 130 acres owned by Pitt County and located at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Highway and Old Creek Road.
“As we get to the final stages of negotiations in the project and the company is nearing a decision, we would respectively ask that you approve our recommendation,” Andrews said.
The 130 acres is valued at $2.87 million. Staff is recommending it be sold to the company for $2.69 million with the remaining revenue coming from the property tax revenue collected by the county by 2028.
An economic development incentive of 70 percent of the next increase in ad valorem taxes paid by the company for a seven-year period for the two-phase project with a cap set at $9 million over the life of the project.
Andrews said the incentive is contingent on the company investing $400 million in real and personal property during the two phases and creating 232 jobs with an average salary above the county current median average wage of $50,937.
Commissioner Mary Perkins Williams asked if the jobs would be blue-collar.
“This is life sciences, there will be all kinds of jobs. There will be administration, there will be engineers but certainly the majority will be high-skilled, blue-collar jobs,” Andrews said.
The commissioners unanimously approved the request, with a modification giving board chairman Mark Smith the authority to execute any documents in relation to the project.
“Ms. Andrews I would like to say keep it up. Keep it up. Keep it up,” Perkins-Williams said.
Sand mine rezoning
The board unanimously approved a conditional district rezoning request for Tripp Mining LLC that rezoned nearly 42 acres located on the northern side of Alvin Road east of intersection with Avon Road from rural agricultural to rural agricultural conditional district to operate a sand mine.
The property is located between Simpson and Grimesland.
Only half of the property will be developed as mine, Hill said. The excavation site will be 100 feet from the property’s boundary line.
The company also has to follow multiple conditions, including obtaining a floodplain development permit from the county planning office and a state mining permit.
There are three riparian buffers, vegetated areas that border bodies of water like rivers, streams and wetlands. The company must build a 100-foot buffer around the waterways unless the state says it is exempt.
Hill said 42 residents in 30 households initially submitted a petition opposing the request because a sand mine already operating in the area has damaged the road due to repeated truck traffic, creates noise, has long hours of operation, has damaged property and creates dust.
A representative of Tripp Mining met with planning staff and representatives of the opponents to discuss the situation and look for ways to address the concerns, Hill said.
Since then Tripp Mining has repaired and paved about 1,000 feet of Alvin Road. The company also plans to close the driveway of its existing mine and direct its traffic through the new mine’s driving way, moving the truck traffic further away from homes in the area.
Hill said the residents are satisfied with Tripp’s Mining’s concessions.
Bobby Tripp with Tripp’s Mining said he understood the neighbors’ concerns because it looked like they would be dealing with more trucks, dust and noise. He said he is glad the residents like the compromise.
“We think it’s a better fit for the community and we are more than happy to try and accommodate each and everybody around it by doing stuff,” Tripp said.
Commissioner Lauren White said she appreciated Tripp’s willingness to listen to the neighbors and modify his plans.
County accepts Spay Today facility
The commissioners unanimously voted to accept the Spay Today facility and its equipment so it can bring spay and neuter services in-house.
The commissioners also approved the county contract with Dr. Krystel Riggione for spay, neuter and other veterinary services for the county and to add a veterinarian assistant position to animal services to help with the care of the animals. The assistant position requires $40,000 for salary and benefits.
The changes were made because Spay Today closed its facilities to the public last month. However, Pitt County still needs spay and neuter services for animals that are adopted from its facility.
Animal Services Director Chad Singleton said accepting the Spay Today facility and contracting with Riggione was the most cost-efficient option and will save the county $10,000 annually over its previous spay and neuter contract.
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