By Samuel Motley

Samuel.motley@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — The Rowan County commissioners on Monday unanimously approved an application for a grant to be used to build a sewer line to Chewy.com’s proposed fulfillment center on Long Ferry Road.

The commissioners voted to send a formal application for Community Block Development Grant funds. The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority already has earmarked the use of as much as $1.5 million — the expected to cost of the sewer line. But the formal application is required for the full $1.5 million.

Installing the sewer line is not just a big deal for Chewy, said commissioners Chairman Greg Edds. It is a “big deal for future economic development opportunities” along Long Ferry Road, Edds said.

The sewer line will be the first to extend under Interstate 85 on Long Ferry Road, Edds said. There is the potential of later extending it to the Carlton site, which is 600 acres, he said.

No one spoke in favor or opposition to the grant during Monday’s public hearing. The next step will be waiting for an environmental review, said Scott Shelton, vice president of the Rowan County Economic Development Commission. This is expected to take about a week, he said.

The board will send a formal application to the N.C. Department of Commerce for a “secondary review,” Shelton said. This process will likely be finished within a 30-day period after the formal application is sent, he said. Then, the county commissioners will work to award the construction bid for the new sewer line.

The estimated time for completion is six months, Shelton said during his presentation to the board.

At this time, the sewer line is expected to be operated by Rowan County, Shelton said. Later, the board could entertain the idea of transitioning operations to Salisbury-Rowan Utilities, he said.

Chewy is an online retailer for pet-related products. Chewy’s facility is expected to bring roughly 1,200 jobs to the county. And Chewy is expected to invest $55 million in construction of the facility and equipment.

CDBG funds are focused on creating “viable urban communities” through the expansion of economic opportunities and through decent housing and suitable living conditions, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s website. This effort is especially focused on improving the environment for low- and moderate- income people.

The grant will be awarded through the N.C. Department of Commerce as part of HUD’s CDBG State Program.

Contact reporter Samuel Motley at 704-797-4264.