Earlier this week, Guilford County government announced that the Guilford County Board of Commissioners would be holding two public hearings regarding offering economic incentives for two companies making a combined investment of $57 million in the county.
However, sources say the hearings have been pulled from that agenda, so, when the agenda comes out for the Thursday, May 16 Guilford County Board of Commissioners meeting, the two projects will not be on there, and no economic incentives public hearings or votes will take place that night.
The first hearing that was announced earlier this week was for a company with the codename “Project Aggie,” which is going to invest $30 million in a new facility in southern Greensboro and create 40 new jobs.
The second announcement was for a new $27 million project, which goes under the codename “Project Mercury” and is bringing 80 new jobs to Greensboro and Guilford County.
The City of Greensboro, which was also planning to hold hearings and grant the two companies incentives, is also expected to postpone public hearings and economic incentives for the two companies.
However, while the news might seem alarming to those in the county who want to see more businesses come here, it’s not a sign of a change of heart by the companies or the local governments regarding incentives packages: The two as yet unnamed companies are still going to locate their new multi-million-dollar projects in Greensboro.
The delays in the public hearings are merely due to the fact that the State of North Carolina – which is also granting both companies incentives – wants to be the one to announce the names of the companies.
If Guilford County and Greensboro had gone ahead with plans to hold a public hearing on economic incentives packages for the companies, then clearly the names of those companies would have to be made public at that time.
So, expect to hear the state announce with great fanfare the name and nature of the two new businesses that are coming to Greensboro, and then, likely in June, the city and county will hold their own public hearings before granting the companies incentives.
If Geekboro had low taxes, low crime, and a friendly business attitude, there wouldn’t be a need for incentives.
And a decent education system. I live in Forsyth Co. Same here. Guilford, Cumberland, and Forsyth compete for the title of “lowest-performing large urban school district in NC”. Currently, Forsyth Co holds that (dis)honor.
So true. Nobody wants to get involved with Blacksboro with our stupid city council and the handouts and payoffs needed to get contract and please the minorities.
Every city and county in the country gives out incentives. Are you and RFK sharing the same brain worm
Big city if the worm could find something to eat in your head, you would have a reason to worry
Well, many of them do. It is that if they don’t, they don’t get the business. All this is, is corporate welfare; at the expense of the taxpayer, AND competing business who don’t get the same consideration.
If you want people to live and work where you live, the very first step is to lower to property tax rate & fees.
But govt won’t do that because it is too simple.
Just make me King of Guilford County.
$57 million for 120 jobs?
Hey big city, just flew in in from the Keys had a quick fishing trip with some friends. Thanks for your “get a life” advice”. Let me ask you do you have a 65’ fishing boat, a second home in Key West or your own Gulfstream. If you don’t maybe you should get a life. Enjoy
Wishful thinking nowadays Joe❗️
I’ll second that emotion!
I do not have a high regard for any company that asks for incentives from any government; and I have less regard for the government that gives incentives that are taken from taxpayers. The companies that take incentives should be shamed by the public, including Toyota. The battery-producing site must be bad for the environment. We are paying Toyota to pollute our environment.
Lol….guess they’re double checking DEI requirements and under the table kickbacks.
All they need to do is check the “requirements” of the commisioners to see which preferred groups are rewarded. Companies know this and that’s why their contract prices are high just so they can provide handouts, er um . . .donations. . .to favorite causes of board members, or board members who might be offered a free week’s stay in a condo at the beach for their vote, and you won’t find that in the contract either. Guess that’s how sausage is made.
Couldn’t agree more
I figured they pulled them because the MWBE folks either weighed in & complained or simply ran them off. Samet 2.0 if you will…If I owned a huge business, I would gladly pass & bid someplace else that doesn’t put such racist practices on full display. They should put up a bold flashing banner on the county website that says “Whites not openly excluded, but strongly discouraged.” The county used to solicit qualified businesses, nowadays they prefer whomever can check the most boxes. Someone needs to remind them that the U in HUB is for underutilized and not underqualified.
There is a pecking order in the tax money giveaway brigade. A strict protocol is enforced, those closest to the nuts in DC get top billing.
I would like to see all economic incentives outlawed nationally and let companies decide based on factors in each community be the decision maker for them. If we had great public schools (teachers, facilities, and less administrators etc.), lower taxes, low crime, respect for the police, good judges to keep people in jail to serve their time, we would not need monetary incentives. Most likely this will never be stopped.
Whew!! Guilford County bureaucratic government officials dodged a bullet on yet ANOTHER economic issue. By almost stealing the thunder from N.C. State givers-of-MY-money, they could have tanked the projects. Now ALL politicians can stand hand in hand while they brag about giving away our earnings to companies who are supposedly EQUAL to everyone who IS NOT receiving the incentives.
What a great Nation we reside in today.
NOT!!!