Congresswoman Alma Adams visits East Spencer to discuss development
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, May 12, 2015
By Shavonne Walker
shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com
EAST SPENCER — The town of East Spencer hopes Congresswoman Alma Adams can be their first stop on the way to changing their development classification in the downtown area. Adams, who represents the 12th District, met Monday with Mayor Barbara Mallett, Town Administrator Macon Sammons and Alderwoman Deloris High.
Randy Gore, state director for U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, who is working with the town, was also in attendance.
If the town can change their designation from metro to rural it could have a positive impact on funding with a commercial developer seeking a loan from a lending agency to have it backed by the USDA.
East Spencer doesn’t meet the federal definition of rural because they are a town that does not exceed a population of 50,000, but they are located within proximity to metro areas including Salisbury, Concord, and Charlotte and as Gore explained are not “rural in character.”
Gore said there are two ways a town can have their designation changed, one of which is to have an administrator over the USDA’s rural business grant them an exception. Another way is via a congressional exception.
“Time is of the essence. The only concern is the sooner they can get it, the better,” he said.
Gore added that the town can only use the exception until 2020, the year of the the next Census.
“It’s not a permanent fix. The congressional ruling is the ruling, but the exception is for a period of time,” Gore said.
He said a similar exception was granted for Livingstone College prior to their move into the former Salisbury Hotel where they have the institutions hospitality management and culinary arts programs.
“We can certainly proceed with a letter of support and help bypass red tape for them,” Adams said.
Adams said the meeting with the mayor and staff helped her get to know more about the town. She met Mallett at a recent event and asked if the congresswoman could meet with the town to see how she could help.
“I’m impressed with a town the size of East Spencer who have done so much work,” she said.
Sammons explained to Adams of the current projects the town is embarking on, the grants they’ve been awarded and ones they hope to obtain.
Last May, the town received $47,000 from the Robertson Family Foundation to help with Royal Giants Park renovations. In August, the town received $30,000 from the Stanback Foundation to help with Phase I of the park project.
The town received $20,000 from the county and $10,000 from the F&M Bank Foundation for the park.
In July, the town received a N.C. Catalyst Grant to renovate dilapidated homes and provide emergency repairs to other homes. In the same month, the town announced it had received $36,000 together with the town of Spencer from the N.C. Department of Transportation for a pedestrian and bicycle planning grant.
Adams also looked at the Gateway Plan, which is designed to create some type of development around and near Interstate 85 at Exit 79 and Andrews Street.
She called the town a business model for bigger cities.
The town is trying to improve the quality of life for its citizens. “That’s what you want, to give people something to stay for,” Adams said.
Mallett said the town can now use USDA funding for water and sewer projects, housing, a fire station and clinics, but just not on Long Street.
She said the town can’t use USDA backing for loans.
Mallett said they are willing to work with anyone who can help their projects become viable.
High said through the meeting they were also able to see what Gore could do with the work the town board and staff have done within the last four years.
“We are progressing,” High said.
Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.
