DANBURY — A pair of welding and fabrication companies will be investing a minimum of $2 million to relocate their operations to King with the help of a joint incentive agreement recently approved by the Stokes County Board of Commissioners and the King City Council.
The companies, Duggins Welding and Reaper Fabrication, have already purchased property on Meadowbrook Drive in King.
They plan to build two facilities totaling nearly 10,000 square feet, according to Tory Mabe, tourism/marketing coordinator, who presented the incentive agreement to the Board of Commissioners at their Aug. 12 meeting.
In addition to the $2 million minimum investment, the two companies will also agree to operate in the location for a minimum of three years once the facilities are operational.
Reaper Fabrication plans to build a 5,000 square foot facility, employ 6 to 8 people and already has plans to expand, Mabe said during the meeting.
Duggins Welding, which is currently located in Pfafftown, plans to build a 4,800 square foot facility. They employ a team of 60, 55 of which work on steel erection throughout throughout the state.
"In the next couple of years, they could employ upwards of 80 people," Mabe told the Board.
As an incentive, Stokes County and King have agreed to split the cost of extending sewer to the site.
The county will be responsible for $31,500, which includes contingency funding.
The money for the incentive project is available through the county's economic development capital reserve fund, according to Interim County Manager Amber Brown.
"Years ago, some funding was budgeted into that reserve account for use of economic development special projects," Brown said in an Aug. 13 email. The funds have to be approved by the commissioners and roll over from year to year, she said.
"There is enough in there to cover the expense of this project already," Brown said.
The Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 to approve the agreement; Chairman Brad Chandler was absent from the meeting and did not vote.
No one spoke at a public hearing held at the start of the meeting.
The King City Council unanimously approved the agreement on Aug. 5.
Among other business, the Board of Commissioners:
• Received the property tax revaluation schedule from Tax Administrator Richard Brim. The schedule is available at the county tax office for public inspection. A public hearing will be held at the commissioners' meeting on Aug. 26.
• Heard an annual update from Jill and Ben Rolfes, of Regal Group, Inc., regarding the Ages 60+ Food Bank. The couple has run the donation-run monthly food bank for seniors out of their Sandy Ridge office since August 2023.
• Received information from Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Angela Puckett and Chief Judge District Court William Southern regarding a new "Accountability and Recovery Court" they've requested the Board of Commissioners approve. The Board is expected to vote on the matter at their Aug. 26 meeting.
• Voted to extend administrative contracts for Interim County Manager Brown and Darlene Bullins, who provides administrative support, through Sept. 20. The new county manager, Jeff Sanborn, starts the position on Sept. 18.
• In a 3-1 vote, approved the reclassification of a Stokes County Health Department administrative officer position to Assistant Health Director. Commissioner Rick Morris opposed.
• Approved a right of entry agreement giving NC DOT access to county-owned Moratock Park in Danbury to prep the site for the Sheppard Mill Road bridge replacement. The project bidding process will begin in 2025, said Mabe, who presented the agreement to the Board.
• Approved a resolution awarding a bid of about $4.2 million from B.R.S., Inc., of Richfield, for a water system improvement project providing an interconnection between Danbury and the Meadows community. The bid must be approved by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.
• Closed nominations on Juvenile Crime Prevention Council appointments. Cory Hutchens, Stokes County district attorney's office, Lincoln Bennett, defense attorney and Seth Tyndall, student under 21, have been nominated to fill the vacant positions. The Board is expected to approve the nominations at the Aug. 26 meeting.
• Approved six budget amendments and tax office items in the consent agenda.
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