The Ashe County Board of Commissioners approved a contract Feb. 17 with the High Country Council of Governments to administer Golden Leaf grant activities tied to a shell building planned at the county industrial park.

Adam (county staff) told the board that most mass grading on two upper lots was completed before the storm and that a roughly 15,000-square-foot shell building is planned for one of the upper lots. The High Country Council of Governments contract covers grant administration tasks including budgeting, reimbursement requests, quarterly and close-out reports and audits related to the Golden Leaf funding.

Adam said the contract’s administrative funds will come from the Golden Leaf grant rather than county funds. The board moved and seconded approval; the motion carried by voice vote in the meeting transcript (no roll-call tally provided).

Why it matters: The shell building is part of the county’s economic-development strategy for the industrial park. Board members said they will review final bids when construction costs are known and can reassess whether to proceed if bids exceed grant projections.

Ending: Staff said the project will go to bid in March with bids expected in April and the board will have another opportunity to reconsider based on final costs.