Valdese council paves the way for Project Arlington and a playground at Lakeside Park

Not only could Valdese be the site for Project Arlington, the county’s latest push for economic growth, but Lakeside Park may get a playground next year.

However, both projects have prerequisites that lie outside the town’s control.

One of the town’s former textile mills has been chosen for a new manufacturing facility as part of Project Arlington, but it hinges on whether an unnamed company chooses Burke County over other locations.

At Valdese Lakeside Park, a new playground is on the table through local nonprofit Friends of the Valdese Rec. It will only happen if the organization raises the money by Feb. 17 to fully cover the cost, though.

The council set the stage for both projects at the town’s 15-minute called meeting on Monday.

There were more empty chairs than not that morning with only eight people in the audience, at least four of whom were town staff.

The council voted unanimously to schedule a public hearing on Project Arlington for Sept. 14 at 6 p.m. and gave town staff the greenlight to pursue construction bids for the playground.

PROJECT ARLINGTON

Little information about this project has been released to the public so far.

What is known is that it will bring 64 new jobs to Burke County, a $7 million net investment over four years, and that the unidentified company is a fourth-generation American business.

The Valdese Town Council scheduled a hearing date to review the proposed incentive agreement in partnership with Burke County.

Commissioners approved of a tax grant offering the company an annual 50% reimbursement of the company’s taxes over a four-year period at the county’s Aug. 6 meeting.

Burke Development Incorporated (BDI) President and CEO Brandon Ruppe said at the Aug. 6 meeting that Burke is competing with a county in Virginia with similar demographics. The tax incentive could make Burke a more attractive location.

The company’s total capital expenditures would be about $15 million, including the $7 million in net new investment in Burke County.

At the current tax rate, which is 55.5 cents per $100 valuation, the 50% reimbursement of taxes paid by the company over four years would total about $61,050. Although, as tax rates shift in the future, so would the reimbursement.

Ruppe said the tax incentive is “performance-based and self-correcting,” meaning if the company’s tax bill isn’t as high because it underperforms, the reimbursement shrinks. He said the county would also “establish a minimum threshold that will invalidate the contract should they significantly underperform.”

On top of Burke’s tax incentive, the state has also offered a $950,000 incentive package, said County Manager Brian Epley.

Ruppe said nothing in economic development is guaranteed, but “we feel very good about this company and feel very confident that they like Burke County.”

LAKESIDE PARK PLAYGROUND

Friends of the Valdese Rec recently announced plans for a playground at Valdese Lakeside Park. The project is to be funded solely by donations.

A local family has provided seed funding for the project.

Council members agreed to an arrangement with Friends of the Valdese Rec where town staff would seek bids and contracts for the work while the nonprofit raises funds.

No part of the project’s funding will come out of Valdese’s budget unless the council chooses to allocate funds for it in the future. The contract with Friends of the Valdese Rec states that the organization is responsible for funding all unexpected expenses and cost increases necessary to complete the project.

Friends of the Valdese Rec has six months to raise the remaining funds. If the money is not raised, the contract lapses and any funding the town has received via donations will be refunded.

A playground was always part of the plan for Valdese Lakeside Park, according to the Friends of the Valdese Rec website.

“We are certainly appreciative of this donation. This is outstanding to help the citizens not only of Valdese or the children of Valdese, but the children throughout our area that will use this playground,” said Mayor Pro Tem Rexanna Lowman.