As required by North Carolina General Statutes, on Monday, May 6, Guilford County gave notice that the Guilford County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 16 to consider granting incentives from the county of over a half million dollars for a company that intends to locate at 238 Ritters Lake Lane In Greensboro.
The project will mean a $30 million investment in a new facility and the creation of 40 new jobs.
In the past, the Guilford County Board of Commissioners has given out the names of companies when the county sets a public hearing for incentives. This time, however, the state of North Carolina – which will also be giving the company incentives – has asked Guilford County not to reveal the name of the company. In fact, one commissioner told the Rhino Times that even the commissioners hadn’t been given the name of the company.
Right now, it is simply referred to as Project Aggie.
What is known is that, on May 16, the hearing will be held to receive public input on the proposal for the county to offer an Economic Development Incentive Grant for the following: “Project Aggie, in the amount of Five Hundred Eighty-Two Thousand Five Hundred One Dollars ($582,501). The company is considering a location at 238 Ritters Lake Road in Greensboro in addition to other options within the United States for a projected investment of Thirty Million Dollars ($30,000,000) in a new facility and the creation of forty (40) new jobs by December 31, 2028.”
The location is just south of I-85, near South Elm-Eugene Street.
Whenever a project like this makes it onto the Board of Commissioners’ agenda that means that the company really already plans to come to Guilford County and it also means that the county commissioners have the votes to approve the incentives. Legally, the incentives have to be an enticement rather than a flat-out gift, so companies seeking incentives must pretend they’re looking at other alternatives until the county, the city and the state grant them the incentives.
The public hearing will be held in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room on the Second Floor of the Old Guilford County Court House at 301 W. Market St. in downtown Greensboro, North Carolina.
The amount of the incentives is determined by Guilford County’s Economic Development Investment Guidelines.
The approval of incentives doesn’t commit the company to locate in Guilford County, and the cash grants are contingent upon the company meeting certain goals – such as the amount invested and the number of jobs created.
Providing tax incentives for corporations to build here or stay here is nothing more than “Representation without Taxation”! Just another foolish move by Skip Alston’s “Band of Brother’s” and another punch in the gut for Guilford County Taxpayers! Maybe Alston and Vaughan should try making our County and City one of the finest, safest, and best in education around! Then they wouldn’t have to pay institutions to move here!
Jim Donaldson
Are the Commissioners permitted to make public if this potential business is owned by a Chinese or Russian entity. At the rate of investment, those countries won’t have to bomb the U. S. To control it- they will own most of it.
Another “secret ” piss in the wind project. Based on past history, dig deep and bend over taxpayers.
I wonder if it might be a waste management business that plans to undertake garbage, trash and yard waste pickups for locations within Guilford County?
Sadly this is the way business is done these days. Each competing entity (city, county, state) must provide monies in some form or fashion. As the Sailor once said “now that we’ve established what kind of girl you are we just need to settle on a price”.
Five Hundred Eighty-Two Thousand Five Hundred One Dollars ($582,501) is a lot of tax dollars. I think it would be appropriate for County Representatives (orCity or State) to explain how long it will take for the County (or City or State) to recoup this money, including interest and inflation.
Otherwise this money simply vaporizes just as it does with our School Board, asking for millions of dollars without being held accountable for educating our students.
You could check the zoning in the area and probably reason what kind of company is coming.
Corporate welfare at our expense, to favor one business over another – also at our expense.
That is what government does now. It’s like, “what are you gonna do about it”? Elect another set of representatives who will do the same?
Taxation is legalized extortion.
GOP does this 365… Corp loopholes and handouts. Tax breaks and bailouts.
Isn’t this same plot Amazon was going to build on? What happened to them? I for one am tired of seeing our beautiful land being swallowed up by brick and mortar. Take a ride on McConnell Road and see the massive buildings. Take a ride up highway 29 north and see buildings instead of farms. Will this be another one like Dell Inc in Kernersville. We need to be more concerned about protecting our land, environment and wildlife and less concerned about the almighty dollar.
Man, more winning the workforce and leadership are attracting not only Fortune 500 companies, but small and midsized firms congratulations to the city council the county commissioners and support staff we are doing a great job,it Isn’t easy pulling all the economic weight for 1.5 million residents in the triad but you make it look easy, the demographics are our strength and we should lean more into it bringing diverse communities together to make it better place for all!
You have no idea how the game works.
What kind of state and local government keeps this investor a secret ? What enterprise creates a mere 40 jobs in four years for $30 million ? I worked in Governor Rubin Askew’s effort 50 years ago to put the Sunshine Law into effect. We certainly need the same transparency in North Carolina.
Oooops. Sorry. Left out this exists in Florida
Vote for Phil Berger and his cronies, this is what you get. They have no interest in the general population. Bad humans, fake Christian’s through and through. Keep supporting them working people, the race to the bottom is on. Don’t whine when your chickens come home to roost. You voted for this. Own it.
I find it interesting that conservatives here get upset over incentives paid (ie tax reductions) to businesses to move here and support the local economy but support conservatives giving business a big tax reduction the last time they held the White House while only giving a temporary tax break to middle class that is actually now scheduled to increase taxes on middle class? Odd.
Please translate your comment.
This county has fallen into the hands of leftist dem crooks, Alston Mafia. We are still waiting for the sunshine to fall on the details of behind the scenes connections that include Raleigh and DC. and who had their palm greased.
they will resurrect ritters lake: the tower, sliding board, juke box, grill ! OH BOY! bikinis !