The North Carolina Railroad Company Announces “Build Ready Site” Awards Totaling $2 Million in Investments

Feb 1, 2024

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The North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR) is awarding $2 million in total investments to rail-served sites across four North Carolina counties in the third year of its Build Ready Sites (BRS) program. Richmond, Nash, Burke, and Warren Counties will each use the investments to make improvements to available rail-served sites in preparation of future industrial development. These improvements will attract new businesses and support growth for the local communities.

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. 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.

Carl Warren

President & CEO
NCRR

Rail-served sites made “build ready” attract new businesses by priming properties for construction without an upfront investment from an interested client. The BRS program helps the recipients, many of which are local governments, bypass a potential client company’s need to prepare a rail-served site for construction, increasing the number of rail-served sites ready for use by a manufacturer or similar employer in North Carolina.

“Two million dollars awarded to these four counties is game-changing and meaningful. This level of investment will help prime these locations for future employers and attract additional investments in these communities.

Jordan Whichard

Chief Deputy Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Commerce & NCRR Board Member

BRS funds can be used for land preparation, such as clearing and grading and extending water and sewer capabilities. The selection criteria for this program prioritize proposals from rural and economically distressed communities, sites with demonstrated community backing, and locations with support from infrastructure partners, including railroads and certain utility providers.

Build Ready Sites 2023 Program Award Recipients

  • Energy Way Industrial Complex (Richmond County)
  • Ammons Site (Nash County)
  • Great Meadows Site (Burke County)
  • The Highway 1 Site (Warren County)

For more information and to stay up to date on Build Ready Site application criteria and deadlines, please visit https://ncrr.com/services/economic-development-programs/.