RALEIGH — The North Carolina Local Government Commission (LGC) approved a property purchase through $70 million in limited obligation bonds for the city of Wilmington at its June 6 meeting.
The purchase involves the PPD building, which is one of the tallest structures in the downtown Wilmington area and is owned by Fisher Thermo Scientific. The sale of the building was announced in spring 2022 after Fisher Thermo Scientific said it was downsizing and moving its headquarters.
The city of Wilmington plans to move multiple departments out of older buildings and consolidate them in the PPD building. The city said it does not plan a tax increase to help pay for the purchase.
The LGC also approved Onslow County’s request for $68 million in limited obligation bonds to build Northeast Elementary School in the Swansboro area, $25 million in limited obligation bonds to purchase vehicles and equipment for various departments in New Hanover County, and $17.4 million in financing for Rowan County to buy, build and install five airport hangars at the Mid-Carolina Regional Airport in Salisbury.
The city of Salisbury in Rowan County was given approval to enter into a $6.5 million installment purchase agreement to build a 19,000-square-foot fire station.
The LGC gave Orange County the go-ahead for $14.5 million in limited obligation bonds. Most of those funds will be for school projects but will also go toward buying county vehicles and several other facilities projects such as façade and HVAC projects, and IT projects.
Other large fiscal approvals were given to the town of Kernersville in Forsyth County for a $4.5 million installment purchase plan to renovate its Beeson Crossroads Fire Department facility and $3.1 million to the city of Rocky Mount in Nash County to remodel a city warehouse and replace a facility roof as well as sewer and water lines. Rocky Mount will also use some funds to refurbish a pool.
Asheboro Housing Authority’s $10.8 million was approved, and those funds will be loaned to Asheboro Summit to buy and fix up the Asheboro Summit Apartments.
The LGC-approved water and sewer projects for the Town of Laurinburg and Edgecombe Water & Sewer District at $2.6 million each. The town of Wallace in Duplin County also received approval for $1.2 million.
