Halifax County commissioners approved a resolution today which seeks to grant a Virginia-based wood treatment company funds to upfit the former Georgia-Pacific building off West Tenth Street in Roanoke Rapids.
According to the resolution presented by Halifax County Economic Development Director Cathy Scott, Culpeper Wood Preservers plans to create 20 new jobs and sink an estimated $2,700,000 into the project.
With the resolution approved by commissioners, the county will now request grant assistance from the state’s Building Reuse Program in the amount of $250,000.
If the grant is approved through the state Department of Commerce, there would be a $12,500 match required from the county.
The grant money would be used for building and site renovations. The average wage of the new jobs is $45,850, information contained in the resolution notes.
The company was issued a building permit last month by the Roanoke Rapids Planning and Development Department for interior renovation of sheetrock, windows and roof repairs to the office.
The city has also issued permits for electrical, plumbing and mechanical.
The building sits at 2262 West Tenth Street between Autoverters and Merritt Piping and Fabrication.
Scott told the board this morning, “They’re really good-paying jobs. It’s a family-owned company.”
According to the company’s website, it was founded in 1976 by Joseph R. Daniel.
It began as a local pressure treating company with a single location in Culpeper. Today it is one of the largest producers of pressure treated lumber in the United States.
“We are a leading manufacturer of pressure treated products to the residential, commercial, industrial and marine markets and employ more than 250 people,” the website says. Culpeper Wood Preservers’ brand name products are sold exclusively through independent lumber dealers throughout the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, Midwest and South.
The company currently operates five plants strategically located in Culpeper; Fredericksburg, Virginia; Shelbyville, Indiana; Columbia, South Carolina and Federalsburg, Maryland.
Budget approval
In another matter this morning the board approved its upcoming 2017/18 fiscal year budget.
The financial plan, which proposes no tax increase, keeps the rate at 78 cents per $100 of value. It also provides a competitive market adjustment rate of 2 percent for full-time employees along with a step increase to allow for progression within their salary grade. The proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year is $42,013,566.