Halifax County Board of Commissioners Chairman James Pierce presents Representative

Angela Bryant with a plaque for her work on a bill which expanded 911 funds.

Commissioners today OK’d a request by Halifax County Economic Development Director Cathy Scott to build what is commonly referred to as shell building in the corporate park near the Halifax-Northampton Regional Airport on Highway 561.

A manufacturing company the county is negotiating with is interested in the building, which the county agreed to pay no more than $1.5 million to construct.

“We believe the construction will help us attract new companies, jobs and help us diversify,” Scott told the board.

Frank Avent, chair of the economic development board, told commissioners during a public hearing on the matter, “We very strongly support this.”

Avent said constructing this building would create higher paying jobs in the county. “We’re asking you to support this to make Halifax County a better place to raise our families.”

County Attorney Bill McBlief explained the term shell building has become outdated in state lingo. He said the preferred term is a building suited for industrial and commercial purposes.

“I don’t like the term shell building,” Commissioner Gene Minton said. “It’s not going to be a shell building for long, I hope.”

During a break in the meeting Scott said the firm interested in locating in the county is a manufacturing company which could create, “A couple of hundred jobs.”

In a matter related to the company, commissioners approved applying for Golden Leaf funds to provide equipment financing for the firm, which Scott told commissioners was in food technology.

The county is seeking $1 million from the Golden Leaf Foundation, Scott said, but can realistically expect to receive $700,000 to $800,000.In other matters today the board:

• Honored Representative Angela Bryant for her work on a bill expanding 911 funds, setting standards for 911 and expanding public membership on the 911 board.

• Recognized the retirement of Sheena Brown, who retired after more than 25 years as a tele-communicator.

• Agreed to fund the Halifax County Forest Service with $15,036. Forest rangers requested last month the agency needed $18,000 or face losing a position in an already short staffed department.