Northampton County officials told the Board of Commissioners the county has been awarded $1,500,000 from the Department of Commerce’s Rural Infrastructure Authority (referred to in the meeting as "IDF funds") to expand sewer infrastructure at the Northampton County Commerce Park. The board voted to approve the formal application required by the Department of Commerce to accept that funding.

According to county staff, the $1,500,000 IDF award will supplement an existing $1,500,000 allocation from the Golden Leaf Foundation, bringing the combined total for the project to $3,000,000. County staff said the combined funds are intended to increase sewer line size from the Commerce Park to accommodate potential industrial growth and jobs in the county.

Mr. Bennett, presenting to the board, said the application before the board was a formality required by the Department of Commerce and that the county must still resolve a few technical matters regarding the Golden Leaf funding. He told commissioners the two grants are intended to be combined to fund the full sewer expansion project.

A commissioner asked whether the county had everything in place to complete the project; Mr. Bennett responded the Commerce Park project is separate from the Golden Leaf items and that the two funding sources will be combined. He confirmed that some technical items with the Golden Leaf funds remain under work.

A motion to approve the resolution for the Northampton County Commerce Park Sewer Project application was made, seconded, and approved by voice vote; the transcript records the board’s affirmative voice vote and the chair’s declaration that the resolution is approved.

The board did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript. The staff presenter said the application is not the final grant award but is required for the Department of Commerce’s process; subsequent steps will follow grant-finalization and any remaining technical clarifications with Golden Leaf.