By Josh Bergeron
josh.bergeron@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Rowan County commissioners on Tuesday will consider a five-year, $400,000 tax incentives deal for a local business that’s considering adding 24 new jobs.

The business, which has not been publicly revealed, currently employs 14 people. The 24 new jobs would pay an average salary of $50,000 per year. An investment of $17.6 million would also come with the expansion.

A summary of the project says Rowan County is not the only location being considered. Sites also being considered include Pennsylvania and Nevada, according to an executive summary of the proposal.

Rowan Works Economic Development calls the proposed expansion “Project Aero.”

Before approving or denying the incentive request, commissioners will hold a public hearing during their 3 p.m. meeting, which will be held on Tuesday because of the Labor Day holiday. The meeting will be on the second floor of the Rowan County Administration Building — 130 West Innes St.

As proposed, the tax incentives would rebate 75 percent of real and personal property tax revenue generated by the expansion. The rebates would last for five years.

During the five years, Rowan County would provide a yearly tax rebate of $87,450. The county would receive $29,150 each year in new tax revenue.

After the five-year period ends, the business expansion would generate $116,000 per year of new tax revenue.

The Salisbury City Council will also consider a tax incentive request for the project.

Although Rowan Works Economic Development has not named the business, its project summary says the company is part of a multinational conglomerate that’s been a manufacturing employer in Rowan County for more than 10 years.

In other business on Tuesday’s agenda:

• For a second time, county commissioners will consider whether to pay higher-than-expected costs to renovate the former J.C. Penney’s building at West End Plaza.

The building is occasionally rented for events. Last month, commissioners were told a renovation at West End Plaza could cost up to $1.6 million. Commissioners said they only expected the cost to be a few hundred thousand dollars.

Items included in the renovation are flooring, new restrooms, electrical upgrades, painting and a portable audio/video system.

On Tuesday, commissioners will specifically consider whether to approve a $117,000 contract with ADW Architects to oversee the project.

• As part of their consent agenda, commissioners are scheduled to approve more than $3 million in contracts between community agencies and the Department of Social Services.

The contacts range from foster care to psychological evaluations.

• Commissioners will consider rezoning a .52 acre site at 3940 Bringle Ferry Road from rural agricultural to commercial, business and industrial.

• Commissioners will hold two public hearings for an event at 175 Shuffler Woods Drive.

One public hearing would focus on a temporary use permit for a haunted house and trail on the property. The permit would be for an event that would last for 13 days in October.

The second public hearing would be to exceed the county’s noise ordinances for a concert on Sept. 29 at the same site.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.