The Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC) has selected 15 projects in North Carolina to receive funding under the FY2025 State Economic and Infrastructure Development (SEID) program. This grant program is designed to revitalize communities and spur economic development across counties in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

The FY 2025 SEID program funds projects that align with priorities identified in SCRC’s authorizing statute, Five‑Year Strategic Plan and State Economic Development Plans.

North Carolina projects were awarded $7.2M. All fifteen projects are located in distressed communities, and twelve projects (80%) are infrastructure projects. The program invests in water and sewer upgrades, transportation improvements, workforce development, small‑business support and community revitalization projects across 15 counties.

The 15 North  Carolina grantees are:

• City of Henderson Water Line Extension – City of Henderson

$500,000 in SCRC funding will expand city‑owned water infrastructure to address private‑well water‑quality issues. Project activities include private‑well testing and the installation of 1,540 linear feet of waterline, which will improve water access for eight households.

• Beaverdam Road Water Main Extension Phase IV – Columbus County Water and Sewer District II

$500,000 in SCRC funding will extend a new water main along Beaverdam Road to improve water capacity, pressure and fire flow in the southeast region of Columbus County. Project activities include installing 17,670 linear feet of waterline, which will serve 7,474 households and open 148 acres for new commercial and industrial development.

• Project Orion – County of Hoke

The County of Hoke proposes to use $310,640 in SCRC funding to extend new waterlines to a county‑owned industrial site within the Hoke County Regional Industrial Park. Project activities include installing 266 linear feet of waterline to support a $95 million expansion of Pennsylvania Transformer Technology, LLC, resulting in the creation of 217 jobs.

• Hertford County NC, Water Pump Replacement Project – Hertford County

$400,000 in SCRC funding will be used to replace the inadequate and deteriorated Como Booster Pump Station with a new prefabricated unit. Project activities include installing a new booster pump to improve service for 32 businesses and 644 households in the surrounding area, which currently experiences routine low pressure and insufficient capacity.

• Laurinburg‑Maxton Airport Commission Aging Sewer Rehabilitation – Laurinburg‑Maxton Airport Commission

This project will leverage $500,000 in SCRC funding to rehabilitate critical sewer infrastructure at the Laurinburg‑Maxton Airport and the Laurinburg‑Maxton Airport Commission Industrial Park. Project activities will include rehabilitating 1,000 linear feet of sewer lines serving 27 businesses and 240 households.

• Northampton County Progressive System Lift Station Rehabilitation – Northampton County

$500,000 in SCRC funding will support Northampton County in replacing the Progressive Lift Station to reduce malfunctions, system backups and environmental concerns. Project activities include constructing a new lift station to serve 21 businesses and 486 households.

• Richmond Community College Industrial Maintenance Trainers – Richmond Community College

Richmond Community College was awarded $184,800 in SCRC funding for a project that proposes advanced training simulation units to expand industrial‑technician training, address critical workforce shortages and strengthen regional industry partnerships, ensuring long‑term economic growth and job retention.

• Robeson County Shell Building – Robeson County

The Robeson County Shell Building Project was awarded $500,000 in SCRC funds for site work on a construction project that will create a shovel‑ready industrial facility as phase two of a three‑phase initiative. This facility will attract employers, generate sustainable jobs and strengthen advanced manufacturing opportunities.

• Health Science Building – Sampson Community College Foundation

Sampson Community College will leverage $500,000 in SCRC funding to build workforce capacity with the construction of a new Health Sciences Building that will expand nursing, allied‑health and EMS training.

• HEO Simulator Program – The University of North Carolina at Pembroke

The University of North Carolina at Pembroke was awarded $410,739 in SCRC funds to establish a Heavy Equipment Operator Training Program that will serve six distressed counties in southeastern North Carolina, including the Lumbee Tribe community.

• Wastewater Treatment Plant Aeration Basin #1 Replacement – Town of Chadbourn

$600,000 in SCRC funding will support the Town of Chadbourn in demolishing and replacing Aeration Basin #1 at its wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Based on engineering assessments and operational data, partial rehabilitation is no longer viable. Project activities include demolition and reconstruction of the aeration basin at the town’s only WWTP, serving 50 businesses and 845 households.

• Reviving Milton: Essential Water Infrastructure for Community Resilience – Town of Milton

The Town of Milton will receive $700,000 for a project that includes constructing a secondary‑source well, upgrading water pumps and replacing water lines that support 112 residential and 13 commercial users.

• AirBoss Rubber Compounding Alternative Road Access – Town of Scotland Neck

$562,500 in SCRC funding will support the Town of Scotland Neck in constructing a new access road to serve a major local employer, AirBoss Rubber Compounding. Project activities include all necessary construction to meet North Carolina Department of Transportation specifications for approximately 600 linear feet of roadway. This project will also support the retention of 105 jobs.

• Tabor City Railroad Access – Town of Tabor City

$500,000 in SCRC funding will support the Town of Tabor City in extending a new freight rail spur to enable the expansion of a warehouse and distribution business. Project activities include constructing a 2,850‑linear‑foot rail spur, leading to the creation of 16 jobs.

• VGCC Transportation Training Hub Turn Lane at Triangle North Warren – Warren County

$500,000 in SCRC funding will support Warren County in constructing a new right‑hand turn lane to facilitate access for tractor‑trailers and heavy equipment to the future Vance‑Granville Community College Transportation Training Hub at the Triangle North Warren Industrial Park. Project activities include constructing 428 linear feet of roadway to serve seven businesses.

For more information about the SEID Grant program and SCRC, please visit scrc.gov.

About the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC)
The Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC) is a federal-state partnership authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill to promote and encourage economic development in areas of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and all of Florida. SCRC invests in projects that support basic infrastructure, business development, natural resources, and workforce/labor development. SCRC’s mission is to help create jobs, build communities, and improve the lives of those who reside in the 428 counties of the seven-state region.