While county commissioners were unanimous in their decision to provide half the funding for a new tech firm coming to Whiteville, Mayor Terry Mann had to break a tie before Whiteville City Council approved the measure.
While council split over the interlocal agreement with the county on how to purchase the building, the board was unanimous in its vote to purchase the property.
Provalus provides cybersecurity, cloud storage and other online services to companies around the world. The Alabama based company plans to make its new home in Whiteville. The company qualified for a One NC grant of $300,000 if it meets a set list of expectations. officials estimate the firm will pump $3 million into the economy.
Provalus has opened temporary hiring and training offices in the former BB&T Main Branch, and plans to eventually move to the former News Reporter Publishing building across Madison Street.
The building was listed for $800,000. Whiteville and the county will pay $697,000 to purchase the 20,000 square foot structure. Both entities will pay $348,500 toward the purchase, and Provalus will retain a $100,000 IRS credit toward a future purchase. Whiteville will hold the title to the property, and lease it to the company.
Commissioners on Monday approved paying $348,500 toward the project with no comment. City council members Kevin Williamson, Tim Collier and Emory Worley voted against the interlocal agreement to purchase the building.
Williamson said he felt the risks were too great, and was concerned about what would happen if the deal fell through, or the building lost value.
Mayor Terry Mann explained that the county had approached the city after a previous purchase attempt using a grant didn’t materialize.
“Gary Lanier (the county economic development director) came to us asking for help,” Mann said. “He said if we couldn’t do anything,. He was going to Chadbourn of Tabor City.”
The county worked long and hard to attract Provalus and its 151 potential jobs, Mann said.
Provalus will be responsible for renovations to the building. Terms of the lease have not been finalized between the city and Provalus.
