During its meeting Monday, Washington’s City Council will conducted a public hearing on a proposal to participate in the cost of an economic-development project.

The project concerns participating in the cost of locating a manufacturing facility — “Project Blue Goose” — in Washington. Project Blue Goose is a metalworking company and a filter media company.

The city intends to consider sharing up to $97,183 of the cost of the project, according to the council’s tentative agenda for its meeting. That money, if allocated, would come from the city’s general fund. A document that’s part of the council’s agenda packet provided no details on how the $97,183 would be used.

“The project will stimulate the local economy, promote business development and result in the creation of jobs in the city,” reads the notice of the public hearing.

Documents filed with the N.C. secretary of state’s office indicate a group of Flanders Filters executives — on a pre-application form for a Community Development Block Grant — named their project Blue Goose, LLC. That form, dated Oct. 17, 2012, was by Kevin E. Boyd, a Flanders Filters senior vice president and co-owner of Oak Ridge Metal Works.

Earlier this month, the council authorized the city to apply for a $320,000 grant to help Oak Ridge Metal Works expand and upgrade its operation at the Beaufort County Industrial Park.

The approval came after a public hearing on the proposal to help the industry pay for the project, which carries an estimated cost of $640,000.

The eligible grant amount is based on a projection of 16 new jobs at $20,000 per job created by Oak Ridge Metal Works. The company will design and build automation equipment for industry.
The grant, if approved, would come from a grant fund that targets reuse of buildings such as the Brooks Boatworks building.

 

 

State documents show Blue Goose was formed Oct. 1, 2012. Its registered agent is Christian E. Porter, 1698 E. Arlington Blvd., Greenville. Blue Goose is manager-managed LLC, according to the documents.

The council meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Council Chambers in the Municipal Building, 102 E. Second St. To view the council’s agenda for a specific meeting, visit the city’s web­site at www.washingtonnc.gov, click “Government” then “City Council” heading, then click “Meeting Agendas” on the menu to the right. Then click on the date for the appropriate agenda.