ROCKINGHAM — Richmond County has reeled in a $10 billion “Blue Marlin.”
Commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved an incentive package that would give the yet-to-be-named company cash grants — equal to the sum of 50% of the annual ad valorem property tax and 65% of the annual personal property tax paid to the county — for each building for the planned data center will be paid annually for 20 years, according to the agreement.
The incentive agreement, included in the agenda packet, was presented by Economic Developer Martie Butler.
There was a public hearing on the matter but no one spoke for or against, and no details were given or questions asked prior to the vote.
The company, codenamed “Blue Marlin,” is required to make at least $1 billion in investments and hire 50 people by the end of 2030.
While presenting the upcoming fiscal year's budget, County Manager Bryan Land touted that the company's planned $10 billion capital investment is the largest in North Carolina history.
Land compared the “Blue Marlin” investment to that of other industrial announcements across the state:
Wolfspeed in Chatham County - $5 billion
Novo Nordisk in Johnston County - $4.1 billion
Vinfast in Chatham County - $4 billion
“We’ll be larger than all of those projects here in Richmond County,” Land said.
The county manager referenced a presentation apparently given to commissioners noting the number of full-time jobs coming to the county as well as the “many” construction jobs related to the project over the next five to six years “or until full build-out.” However, he did not give any specific numbers publicly.
“This project will truly transform our community in ways that we cannot imagine,” Land said. “With the announcement comes large-scale upgrades to our water system, Rockingham’s wastewater system and our fiber optic infrastructure throughout our county — all of which will come at a cost to our Richmond County taxpayers of zero.”
County Manager Bryan Land addresses the Richmond County Board of Commissioners during the June 3 meeting.
William R. Toler - Richmond Observer
Land went on to say that the economic development team has “landed the biggest and the best project possible for our community.
An official announcement will be made Wednesday at Cole Auditorium with Gov. Josh Stein.
Land also took the time to give a snapshot of other ongoing economic development projects.
Graceland Portable Buildings - Announced in September 2024, Land said the company is “currently breathing new life” into the former Woodgrain Distributors property south of Hoffman on U.S. 1 “that could have easily been demolished.” Land said Graceland has invested around $7.1 million and hired 51 employees with an average yearly wage of around $45,000. “It won’t be long before you’ll start seeing these improvements come to fruition.”
Latham Pools - Land said business for the company has “really ramped up” since COVID. The company has added another outside storage area and around 20 new employees
Global Packaging - The Hamlet company is currently working on a $25 million 40,000-square-foot expansion that will bring 10 additional jobs.
Direct Pack - While it has yet to materialize, the company on Airport Road is still planning to construct a 200,000-square-foot facility across the street. The initial announcement was made in November of 2022 and the county sold the land to Direct Pack the following month.
Duke Energy - The utility giant purchased 21 acres in the Rockingham West Industrial Park from the city of Rockingham in May 2024. Land said the ground-breaking for the 50,000-square-foot facility should be soon.
Land also mentioned the recent completion of shell building No. 6 in the Richmond County Industrial Park.
“A strong demand for existing buildings coupled with very high visibility … we feel this building will be another strong economic driver for our community.”
