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9/16/2025
The North Carolina Railroad Co. (NCRR) is accepting applications for the fall 2025 round of its Build Ready Sites program through Oct. 17.
The competitive grant initiative helps communities prepare rail-served industrial sites for future development and job creation. This application period is the first time NCRR offered two application rounds in a single year, a response to increasing interest from communities and site developers, NCRR officials said in a press release.
Since its launch in 2021, the program has awarded $11.7 million in private grants to 21 counties across North Carolina, helping create more than 4,000 acres of rail-served property for industrial use. The investments aim to strengthen local economies, attract new industry and support job creation in both rural and urban communities, NCRR officials said.
In the spring 2025 cycle, NCRR awarded $2.5 million overall to four communities preparing rail-served sites for future industrial use. Expanding to two grant rounds this year reflects the growing demand for domestic manufacturing capacity, said NCRR President and CEO Carl Warren.
Communities interested in applying for grants can click here for more information.