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BEULAVILLE — Town leaders are looking to tap into millions in unspent state economic development dollars to help build out East Park Industrial Park on Lyman Road.
Scotty Summerlin, executive director of the Duplin County Economic Development Commission, told the Beulaville town board at its monthly meeting that the county received $12 million from a statewide funding pool in 2023 and has about $5 million left to spend. The money must be used by June 30 or the county risks losing it, though Summerlin said an application for an extension has been filed.
So far, the funding has paid for industrial buildings at Air Park in Kenansville and in Wallace — large shell structures of 50,000 to 100,000 square feet with utilities in place.
Commissioner Gene Wickline questioned whether buildings that size made sense, noting that spaces of 3,000 to 10,000 square feet are renting quickly in Wilmington.
“I think you will have more potential users with smaller buildings,” Wickline said.
Summerlin said research early in the projects pointed to 30,000 square feet as the “sweet spot of need” for most businesses.
Mayor Hutch Jones and the commissioners said they want East Park included in any remaining spending. Summerlin was receptive but said there is a complication: the town owns the East Park land, and all of the industrial projects funded so far have been on county-owned property. That could affect whether the site qualifies for the same dollars.
Still, Summerlin said the county could help in other ways, such as building signage and marketing the property.
“The county is here to help any way possible,” he said.
Affordable housing approved
In a separate public hearing, the board approved a rezoning of five acres along East Park Drive for a new multifamily housing community called Meadow Villas.
Chris Whaley, a representative of Tidewater Association, said the development would include one-, two- and three-bedroom units along with community buildings, playgrounds and picnic shelters. Rent would range from $540 for a one-bedroom to $886 for a three-bedroom, based on the area’s median income.
“Providing additional affordable housing other than single-family homes helps the long-term goal of industry growth for the town,” Whaley said.
No one spoke against the proposal, and the board approved the rezoning unanimously. The board also formally adopted East Park Drive into the town’s street system. Construction could begin within a few months pending agency approvals.
Other business
The board awarded a contract to East Coast Environmental, the lowest bidder, for asbestos services tied to the Community Development Block Grant – Neighborhood Revitalization housing restoration project. It also approved a request to allow Colliers Engineering to help administer the town’s Urban Tree Grant.
New appointments were approved to the Tree Advisory Board — Commissioners Wickline and Russ Lanier along with Rebecca Brown, Saundra Miller and Marcia Jones — and Gwen Mercer was appointed to the Zoning Board.
The board passed resolutions approving the 2024 Local Water Supply Plan and the Sampson Duplin Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Public Works reported 2.8 inches of rain in January and average daily water usage of 152,000 gallons. The town has begun accepting bids on engineering upgrades at its wastewater plant.
Police Chief Karl Mobley reported fewer calls in January and said the department has filled its last full-time vacancy.
Town Manager Lori Williams announced the Chamber banquet will be held Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. A drive-thru public shredding event is set for 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 28, and the next bulk trash pickup is March 25.
Williams said the town’s Facebook page views have increased more than 358% since July 2025, crediting contractor Tracy Sanderson. The town is also interviewing for a part-time position and hopes to make a hire by March.
The board went into closed session to discuss economic development.
