Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
The Rail Industrial Access <br />Program provides grant <br />funding to aid in financing the <br />construction or rehabilitation of <br />railroad access tracks required <br />by a new or expanding industry <br />that will result in a significant <br />number of new jobs or capital <br />{! ii investment. Organizations <br />eligible to apply for funding <br />include , <br />• Municipal and <br />r for -profit <br />development <br />organizations <br />• Railroads <br />to encourage firms to choose <br />a location or expand in North <br />Carolina as opposed to another <br />state. It is not intended to fund <br />projects when only an in -state <br />location is considered or when <br />an expansion will not have a <br />significant economic impact. <br />Project Costs <br />Eligible project costs include: <br />• Site preparation, including <br />grading and drainage <br />• Track construction <br />• Switches <br />• Grade crossings and signals <br />Ineligible project costs include: <br />Relocation of utilities, Acquisition <br />of fight-of-way, and Unloading <br />facilities <br />Allocation of Funding <br />Grant.-recipients may receive a <br />maximum of SO percent of total <br />project costs depending on the <br />DOT evaluation of economic <br />benefits and the funding <br />available. No more than 20 <br />percent of the annual budgeted <br />funding for this program may be <br />allocated to any one project in <br />any fiscal year <br />Ownership and <br />Maintenance Responsibility <br />The rail industrial access tracks, <br />once constructed, are owned by <br />the grantee or by the industry <br />served. The track owner is <br />responsible for maintenance and <br />liability on the project tracks. <br />Repayment <br />If the project tracks are <br />abandoned, relocated or sold <br />without a grant assignment, <br />the grantee will be required <br />to repay to the N.C. Board of <br />Transportation its contribution <br />to the cost of construction and <br />materials, less depreciation. <br />The grantee also may be <br />required to repay the N.C. <br />Board of Transportation if rail <br />use falls significantly below the <br />commitment levels specified <br />in the grant application <br />during the first five years of <br />the grant assignment or if job <br />commitments are not met during <br />the first two years of the grant <br />assignment. <br />North Carolina Department of Commerce Incentives 1 17 <br />