The Yancey County Economic Development Commission received notification from the United States Department of Agriculture that its application for grant funding through the USDA Rural Business Development Grant Program to fund the cost of a site search for a potential new industrial park in partnership with Mitchell County has been approved. The grant award of $41,500 will be made to Yancey County government to engage the services of an economic development consultant to evaluate potential sites for a multijurisdictional industrial park which would be developed in partnership with Yancey and Mitchell Counties.
A formal memorandum of understanding was approved by the Boards of County Commissioners and the Economic Development Commissions of Mitchell and Yancey Counties earlier in the year. The memorandum establishes a joint advisory committee to engage the services of an economic development consultant to evaluate potential sites in each community for potential industrial development.
Multijurisdictional industrial sites are industrial properties that are developed in cooperation between two or more counties. Though there have been previous similar collaborations in North Carolina, no such partnership has yet been developed in western North Carolina. If successful, the proposed project in collaboration between Yancey and Mitchell Counties would be the first such project in the western region of the state.
“The need for an inventory of ready industrial sites for business recruitment is prevalent across our region. This project in partnership with our neighbors in Mitchell County will allow us the opportunity to pool our resources and develop a potential site which would compete with any site offered by a larger, more urban community” said Yancey EDC Director Jamie McMahan. By partnering with each other, rural counties can pool their resources and compete effectively with other communities in our state and beyond in a broader region. I’m excited to see this project move forward and grateful to USDA for investing in this project” added McMahan.
Mickey Duvall, Mitchell County EDC Executive Director expressed his excitement and gratitude for everyone who has been involved with the Mitchell-Yancey County Multi-Jurisdictional Industrial Park Project. “I am very thankful for the forward vision of the Mitchell County Commission as well as the Mitchell County Economic Development Commission in supporting and recognizing this project can be a giant leap forward for industrial growth and great paying jobs in Mitchell County, NC. We are very fortunate to have such a great relationship with Yancey County Leaders and look forward to partnering with them on this first economic development project of its kind in the Western part of North Carolina!”
“Yancey County is excited to see what opportunities are available for future endeavors with Mitchell County. This is the first step in seeing what great resources both counties have to offer but the sky is the limit” said Yancey County Manager Lynn Austin, speaking on behalf of the Yancey County Board of County Commissioners upon news of the grant award.
With the USDA grant award in hand, and with further joint financial commitments made by both communities, the joint committee composed of stakeholders from both county governments and economic development commissions, will hold its first meeting in the coming weeks to engage the consultant and begin the site evaluation process.
