Utility Account
Utility Account supports North Carolina local governments with publicly owned infrastructure projects serving industrial activity to attract businesses and create full-time private-sector jobs.
Funder: North Carolina Department of Commerce
Due Dates: November 10, 2026 (Pre-application) | January 19, 2027 (Pre-application) | March 16, 2027 (Pre-application) | May 18, 2027 (Pre-application)
Funding Amounts: Cash match of at least 25% of the grant amount for projects outside the 25 most distressed counties
Summary: Supports publicly owned infrastructure serving industrial activity and creating new full-time private-sector jobs in distressed North Carolina counties.
Key Information: Only municipal or county governments in North Carolina’s 80 most distressed counties are eligible.
Description
The Utility Account is part of the Industrial Development Fund, administered by the North Carolina Department of Commerce. It helps local governments build publicly owned infrastructure that can attract businesses, particularly industrial-grade utility services. The program connects infrastructure investment with job creation in the state’s 80 most distressed counties.
Eligible work includes construction or improvements to water, sewer, gas, telecommunications, transportation infrastructure, and electrical utility lines. Infrastructure must be on the building site or directly related to the operation of a specific industrial activity. Projects must reasonably be expected to create jobs, with applicants demonstrating new full-time private-sector employment within 24 months of the grant award.
