North Carolina’s Southeast recently awarded $262,000 to the Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corp. that will be used to build an access road in one of the county’s industrial sites.
The project was among 16 to receive funding through the North Carolina’s Southeast Product Development Fund, according to a release from the economic development corporation.
“Our team and the executive committee were highly impressed with the quality of the submitted projects,” said Steve Yost, president of North Carolina’s Southeast, “and especially with the level of other funds that will be leveraged into most of the projects.”
North Carolina’s Southeast is a regional economic development partnership representing 18 counties, including Cumberland, with the goal of generating new economic growth in the region, the release said.
Robert Van Geons, president and CEO of the Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corp., said the money will be used to rough grade an access road connecting Production Drive to Sand Hill Road at the county-owned Sand Hill Road site.
Cumberland County was awarded $937,600 from the Golden LEAF Foundation in July that will be used to clear and grade 30 acres at the Sand Hill Road site.
The Sand Hill Road site consists of 159 acres between Interstate 95 and N.C. 87. It is zoned for industrial use.
“Together, these grants will make the Sand Hill Road Site truly shovel-ready and exponentially more competitive for the many time-sensitive projects to which we respond,” Van Geons said in the release.
There also are plans to secure the site with control gates at both ends of the access road. In addition to making the site easier to reach for clients and prospective projects, the work will reduce costs when a permanent road is installed, the release said.
“This project will provide north-south connectivity through the property, improving its access to nearby I-95, N.C. 87, and U.S. 301,” Van Geons said in the release. “We look forward to working with county staff to put the funds to use, further enhancing this excellent site.”
