By Mark Wineka
mwineka@salisburypost.com
Duke Energy has given the Salisbury-Rowan Economic Development Commission a $200,000 grant toward improvements for the Summit Corporate Center.
The grant comes from Duke Energy’s Carolinas Investment Fund.
EDC officials said improvements to the county-owned industrial park will include things such as grading, landscaping and “vehicular corridor enhancements.”
Other updates will include new signs and access drives for key parcels.
To secure new industry, funds also could go toward physical improvements to particular development sites in the Summit Corporate Center.
EDC chairman Jeanie Moore said her organization appreciated the chance to partner with Duke Energy through the Carolinas Investment Fund.
“To my knowledge,” EDC Executive Director Robert Van Geons said, “we haven’t ever applied before.”
Van Geons said the EDC believes the improvements made possible through the grant will “increase the marketability of our sites in Summit and elsewhere in the county.”
“With this assistance, we will be able to enhance these sites in ways that would not otherwise be possible,” he said.
A condition of the funding requires that it be utilized for physical improvements to facilitate new investment and job creation.
“In these difficult economic times,” Moore said in a press release Thursday, “every additional resource we can leverage is greatly appreciated.”
Moore gave a special thank-you to Duke Energy Economic Development Manager Tammy Trexler Whaley, “who has worked with us over the last few months to prepare and facilitate this application.”
“She has been a frequent participant in our recruitment efforts and is as valued member of our larger economic development team,” Moore said.
Last Thursday, Duke Business Relations Manager Randy Welch of Salisbury presented the award to EDC board members.
Welch reiterated Duke Energy’s commitment to economic development within its service areas.
“We are proud of the relationship we have developed with the Salisbury-Rowan EDC,” he said in a release.
“We believe in the potential of Rowan County and know that this grant, combined with the work being done through our site readiness program, will position this community well for future investment.
The EDC spoke of the grant award at Rowan County government’s annual retreat Thursday.
Rowan County Commissioner Jon Barber said he was pleased Duke Energy continued to be “a great corporate citizen to Rowan County.”
“With the endless news of our state’s economic woes,” he said in a statement, “it’s great to hear that this company is financially investing in Rowan by way of their monetary donation to the EDC.
“… Other counties would love to have their place of business and commitment in their county.”
Carl Ford, chairman of the Rowan County Board of Commissioners, attended last week’s check presentation along with Moore, Van Geons and EDC board members Dr. Jimmy Jenkins, Phil Kirk, Harold Earnhardt and Diane Greene.