Project Buck has the green light.

On Monday, Rowan County commissioners voted unanimously to sell 14.5 acres of land in and adjacent to Summit Corporate Center to James River Equipment, a John Deere dealership anchored in Rowan County since 1996.

The business, presently located at 805 Klumac Road, operates a full-service equipment and tractor dealership and was looking to move to a location that would afford a higher visibility and traffic count.

“Our goal is to create jobs, keep the jobs we have and expand the nonresidential tax base of our community,” said Robert Van Geons, director of RowanWorks. “This project does represent an important $1.5 million investment by the company in real property and an estimated $93,000 worth of property taxes in the next 10 years based on the current rate.”

Van Geons and the county economic development officials also estimated the move would bring in more than $485,000 of direct tax from the real estate sale.

“This is an opportunity to keep and grow this distinct company here in Rowan County and put 14.5 acres of what has long been idle property to a productive use,” Van Geons said.

James River Equipment employs 25 people, and Van Geons said the business is looking to add five to ten more jobs as a result of the move.

The business has demonstrated continued growth and plans to build a new facility on the site ranging anywhere between 12,000 and 14,000 square feet.

“They do need an additional facility. They are out of space and the location has changed around them since the dealership has been there,” Van Geons said.

James River Equipment is working with the Rowan County Fair Association to give the fairgrounds access to their property for the purpose of parking during events.

The company offered $485,000 for the 14.5-acre tract of land.

The $33,500 cost per acre is well above the land’s tax value of $27,527 per acre.

The growth of the James River Equipment will result in the growth of the county.

“Beyond the revenue we get from the property sale, the annual tax revenue, the jobs we’ll keep and the support of the fairgrounds, this company generates an exceptional amount of sales tax revenue for (the county) as well,” Van Geons said.

Given the type of services and products James River Equipment sells, Van Geons said commissioners would be impressed with the economic impact of Project Buck.

“When we talk about retail, this is probably the most effective form of retail you could have in your community,” Van Geons said. “We do believe this is a win-win.”