To make the site a reality, Ashe County Government partnered with local stakeholders including Blue Ridge Energy, North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives and SkyLine/SkyBest. Additional partnerships with state and federal organizations — including the Golden LEAF Foundation, the NC Department of Commerce and the Appalachian Regional Commission — enabled the county to secure $1.85 million in grant funding. The collaborative effort was essential for assessing and certifying the sites for economic development, paving the way to bring new businesses and new jobs to the area.

“In recent years a lot of work has gone into advanced planning to make these sites turnkey for businesses looking to locate in West Jefferson. A next step is to secure funding for shell building construction,” says Ashe County Manager Adam Stumb. “Given other industries and interests in our region, it’s a prime site for advanced manufacturing, manufacturing related to the auto industry, or those in the outdoor recreation industry.”

In working to develop the site, near GE Aerospace’s jet engine component manufacturing facility, Blue Ridge Energy helped the county obtain a $1.3 million loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture through its Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant (REDLG) program. The program provides rural utilities with federal funds to pass through as zero-interest loans for local projects that create and retain employment in the communities they serve. The funds supported Ashe County in developing infrastructure on the site to grow future businesses.

“The REDLG loan facilitated by Blue Ridge Energy was the first funding we secured for the project,” says Ashe County Economic Development Director Cathy Barr. “That was exciting — that was the beginning. Communities could not grow and thrive without good partners like Blue Ridge Energy and the contributions they make.”