RALEIGH — The Local Government Commission approved two applications for funding submitted by Cabarrus County officials at its November meeting.
Cabarrus County’s first request was for $73 million to fully fund nine separate projects that include an addition to Fred L. Wilson Elementary School, HVAC replacements at four other schools, roof replacements for three schools, and a public library and active living center at Afton Ridge.
The second request was for $78 million, $52 million of which would be for replacing Coltrane-Webb/Beverly Hills Elementary School. The second request also includes two other projects that lack final cost documentation.
The first request was approved by the Local Government Commission (LGC), and the second request was supposed to be scheduled for consideration at a later date, but the board bucked the staff recommendations and voted 5-2 to approve it.
The LGC has been “divided” on approval of the Cabarrus applications, according to a press release from North Carolina Treasurer Dale Folwell, who chairs the LGC.
“Staff said some of the projects have yet to be ‘cured,’ meaning all necessary information has not been provided to move the funding forward,” the press release said.
“Anything that is not cured could be considered half-baked,” said Folwell before the meeting. He voted against approving the second Cabarrus request.
During his monthly call with reporters, Folwell underscored that Cabarrus County requested that its application items be split.
“This is a request by the county to split these applications,” Folwell said. “So the LGC staff considered these separately at the request of Cabarrus County.” Folwell. said the documentation for the second request just isn’t there yet for the LGC to consider approval.
Another item that drew some contention was the 5-3 passage with one abstention of the Cumberland County request for $250 million for American Titanium Metal LLC to build a 500,000-square-foot titanium reprocessing facility in Fayetteville.
Folwell also voted against the American Titanium Metal request.
“North Carolina has never engaged in such a complex, speculative and highly leveraged endeavor,” he said.
He also said N.C. Secretary of Commerce Machelle Sanders had failed to confirm to him that she endorsed the project.
Other items approved by the LGC include:
• Wake County (Centennial Authority): $100 million for improvements to Lenovo Center (formerly PNC Arena), including a multipurpose room, bunker suites, restrooms and concessions
• Wake County (N.C. Housing Finance Agency): $750 million to purchase mortgage loans for low- and moderate-income households
• Caldwell County (Baton Water Corporation): $179,624 to inspect and inventory water lines for EPA Lead and Copper Rule Revision compliance
• Moore County (Town of Carthage): $215,149 total in two requests; $171,801 for three 2025 Ford Police Interceptors and $43,348 for a 2024 Ford F250 fire chief response vehicle
• Mecklenburg County (Inlivian): $18 million for the Grounds for Change Apartments to build an 80-unit affordable housing facility in Charlotte
