Utility Account
The Utility Account grant from the North Carolina Department of Commerce funds public infrastructure projects that enable job creation and business growth in the state’s most distressed counties.
Funder: North Carolina Department of Commerce
Due Dates: November 10, 2026 | January 19, 2027 | March 16, 2027 | May 18, 2027
Funding Amounts: Award size varies by project; a 25% cash match is required for projects outside the 25 most distressed counties; funding supports public infrastructure for job creation.
Summary: Supports local governments in North Carolina’s 80 most distressed counties to build public infrastructure that enables business attraction and job creation.
Key Information: Pre-applications are required ~30 days before each RIA meeting; only invited applicants may submit a full application.
Description
The Utility Account, administered by the North Carolina Department of Commerce, is a competitive grant program designed to help local governments in the state’s 80 most economically distressed counties (Tier 1 and Tier 2) develop or improve public infrastructure essential for attracting new businesses and supporting job creation. Eligible projects include construction or upgrades of water, sewer, gas, telecommunications, transportation infrastructure, or electrical utility lines on publicly owned sites, with a requirement that the improvements are reasonably expected to result in new, full-time private sector jobs.
