Spruce Pine gets grants to create jobs, pedestrian plan

May 23, 2010

SPRUCE PINE - Senator Joe Sam Queen recently announced that Spruce Pine has been awarded two state grants - one to create jobs and revitalize a building downtown and another to fund the town's pedestrian plan. Both projects will be funded by the North Carolina General Assembly.

The Town of Spruce Pine will soon see 10 new jobs in downtown along with the complete renovation and redesign of the former Express Market CITGO Station building with a grant for $199,124 from the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center Building Reuse program.

Grant funds will be used to re-construct the Oak Avenue (Upper Street) building known locally as the CITGO Service Station. Vacant for a number of years, the building was recently purchased by Highland Craftsmen, Inc., a manufacturer of poplar bark shingles and specialty wood products used in the building trades. Highland is located across the street from the station property. Spokesperson Chris McCurry said "Highland plans to use the building as a design center for an expanded Barkhouse Brand product line and additional manufacturing space." The project is part of a downtown campus plan that the company is working toward to accommodate growing demand for its products. Once complete the project will create at least ten new jobs, according to McCurry. The Rural Center oversees the program on behalf of the N.C. General Assembly, which provides funding for the initiatives.

Senator Queen also announced that Spruce Pine was awarded funding from the North Carolina Department of Transportation's Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Grant Initiative. These grants are part of an ongoing planning program that helps North Carolina's cities and towns plan for bicyclists and pedestrians and to integrate those modes into their overall transportation system. Spruce Pine will receive $31,000 for the town's pedestrian plan.

Originally published in the Asheville Citizen-Times