News Release

Contact: Bob Clark
Phone: (252) 747-3414
Date: March 15, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

(Snow Hill, North Carolina)—In a ceremony at the Greene County Museum, Rick Bain of the North Carolina Rural Economic Center announced that the town of Snow Hill was awarded $100K in Building Reuse and Restoration Program funds to be used for renovating the former Dalloz Safety building located on Highway 258 South.

“I’m delighted that Snow Hill is the recipient of these funds. This is just a piece of a larger puzzle because many have worked hard to make this a reality. The funds will help create jobs and added tax base. The residents of Snow Hill will greatly benefit,” said Davis.

Tide Tamer Industries, which began operations 10 years ago in Hookerton, manufacturers jet ski and boat lifts. With current expansion efforts, this business plans to extend its operations to include a new line of waterfront development products including floating docks and gangways. Worth Products, which began operations in January 2002, is a computer numberical control shop capable of various types of metal machining and fabrication.

With the purchase of the former Dalloz Safety building, the businesses intend to use building reuse funds to finance essential repairs to the building making it suitable for production requirements. With this initiative, the businesses expect to hire at least eight new employees over the next 24 months and submit a petition to be voluntarily annexed into the town of Snow Hill.

North Carolina Representative Stephen LaRoque, Greene County Commisisoner Chair Mary Betty Kearney and Executive Director Robert Masters from the Contentea Development Corporation joined representatives from Tide Tamer Industries and Ken Letchworth, owner of Worth Products, for the award presentation.

The Building Reuse and Restoration Program is funded by the North Carolina General Assembly and administered by the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center. The grant program is designed to spur economic activity and job creation by assisting in the productive reuse of vacant buildings in small towns.