SALISBURY — An apparel company plans to buy and renovate the former Pro Mats building on South Main Street and will ask City Council for help to pay for the project.
Club Red Inc. will request a $25,000 Industrial Revitalization Building Program grant when City Council meets at 4 p.m. Tuesday in City Hall, 217 S. Main St. Buying and renovating the building would cost more than $500,000, an official said.
Tuesday’s meeting also will include elections of the mayor and mayor pro tem. Paul Woodson, the top vote-getter in last month’s City Council race, is expected to retain the mayor’s seat, with runner-up Maggie Blackwell repeating as mayor pro tem.
Club Red is a new, locally owned and operated enterprise leasing the former Pro Mats building at 1517 S. Main St. The company hopes to invest more than $500,000 in the property, said Robert Van Geons, executive director for RowanWorks Economic Development Commission.
Club Red markets and sells officially licensed apparel from some of the hottest brands in pop culture today, Van Geons said. The business has partnered with popular brands from television such as Swamp People, Duck Dynasty and Sons of Guns.
The company’s products are sold through a retail distribution network that includes sporting goods retailers, distributors and independent stores.
Though separate, Club Red is closely related to Rockwell-based Thompson Screen Printing and Concord-based Uwharrie Apparel Company, Van Geons said. The business is growing and currently employs 30 people.
The proposed expansion would acquire and rehabilitate 56,000 square feet of leased space to make a permanent home for Club Red’s operations. Once the work is complete, the company hopes to continue recent growth and projects substantial increases in business volume and employment, Van Geons said.
To make the building a suitable location, Club Red must add new bathrooms, make the facility accessible to the disabled, replace bay doors, repair the roof and concrete, paint, add new lighting and improve the office, Van Geons said. Renovations will cost about $150,000, he said.
The city’s Industrial Building Revitalization Program offers grants to companies that rehabilitate older, vacant buildings and encourages economic development in underutilized corridors.
City Council will hold a public hearing about the grant request.

Also on Tuesday’s agenda:
• Rather than by a City Council member, the invocation will be given by Dr. Randy Kirby, First Presbyterian Church.
• City Council will consider issuing retiring Salisbury Police Lt. John Lanier his sidearm and badge.
Lanier retired from the Salisbury Police Department Nov. 30 after more than 28 years of service, Police Chief Rory Collins said. Lanier was a servant leader who placed the needs of his troops before his own and is well respected by other members of the department, Collins said. In addition to his regularly assigned duties, Lanier also served on the Special Response Team and has become certified to serve as an instructor in basic law enforcement training courses.
• City staff will present the West End Transform Plan and ask for a public hearing Dec. 17.
• City Council will consider authorizing a permit to demolish the former J&M Flower Shop building at 504 N. Main St. in the Downtown Local Historic District.
The city’s Historic Preservation Commission on Nov. 14 issued a certificate of appropriateness for the demolition on a vote of 7-1. The building has had many exterior and interior changes over the years that have removed historic materials and features, and the ceilings and wood floors have been weakened in several locations due to leaks, said Janet Gapen, the city’s planning director.
• City Council will consider making the four-way stop signs at Ellis and Monroe streets and Ellis and Horah streets permanent.
• City Council will consider an agreement for entry–settlement and a deed for highway right-of-way with the N.C. Department of Transportation for $2,100 regarding city-owned property.
• City Council members will consider liaison appointments to 20 community groups.
• City Manager Doug Paris will comment.
• City Council will go into closed session concerning economic development.

Contact Emily Ford at 704-797-4264.