Improving Business in the Wilmington Region

ARP Funds to Support Water and Wastewater Service at Blue Clay Business Park

The nation’s American Rescue Plan (ARP), which distributes $1.9 trillion in pandemic economic relief across the country, is set to fund important infrastructure at an emerging industrial property in New Hanover County. The 120-acre Blue Clay Business Park will obtain $3.6 million in water and sewer infrastructure funding. The sum is part of a $45.4 million tranche of ARP money New Hanover County, which owns the site, is expected to receive from the federal government.

The rail-served site has the capacity to accommodate 875,000 sq.-ft. under roof, according to an assessment by Duke Energy’s Site Readiness Program in 2019. The program provides consultant-quality studies of available industrial properties in advance of their promotion. Then known as the Blue Clay Road Site, it was one of five North Carolina properties chosen by Charlotte-based Duke Energy for assessment that year. This property sits less than five miles from I-40, along a CSX railroad, and is convenient to Wilmington International Airport and Port of Wilmington.