Provalus Building to Cost $2.1 Million

The renovation and refit of a downtown Whiteville building will cost $2.1 million.

City council on Tuesday was briefed on the progress of the Provalus project. The tech support firm has opened a temporary facility in Whiteville, and is working with Southeastern Community college to provide training for new employees. They eventually plan to move into the former News Reporter publishing building on Columbus Street.

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 firm will eventually centralize many of its operations in Whiteville creating around 200 jobs.

A 50/50 agreement between the city and county led to the purchase of the building last year for $697,000. Each entity will pay $348,500 toward the purchase. Provalus will keep the IRS tax credit for the building and improvements, and the city will lease it to Provalus.

County commissioners were unanimous in their decision to buy the building, but Whiteville Mayor Terry Mann had to break a tie before Whiteville City Council approved the measure.

Council split over the interlocal agreement with the county on how to purchase the building. They were unanimous in the vote to purchase the property. 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.

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.

City Manager Darren Currie said today (Dec. 11) that funding from a number of sources is going into the purchase and renovation. The city is applying for $500,000 from the Golden LEAF Fund. The Jobs Foundation, which was started and is directed by Les High, one of the owners of the building, donated $90,000. The city asked for $500,000 from the Building Reuse fund, and has received $390,000.

If the new request to Golden LEAF is approved, Currie said, the city will not have to use any local funds for the purchase and project.