LENOIR, NC (February 17, 2017)…White Wholesale Tire Company, Inc. has been awarded an N.C. Department of Commerce Building Reuse Grant in order to make renovations to a 6,030-square-foot building at the corner of Harper and Pennton Avenues in Lenoir.
Facilitated by the Caldwell County Economic Development Commission, along with the City of Lenoir, the $50,000 grant will be used to convert the building to its original use as a tire and service center.
The company – which also operates tire centers in Burke, Catawba, and Rowan counties – plans to create 10 new full-time jobs within the next two years.
“We are going to make it a top-notch retail store that is going to look good for the city of Lenoir,” White Wholesale Tire Company Corporate Secretary Wendy Barlowe said. “It’s one of the first things you see as you go into the downtown area.”
Barlowe said renovations would begin immediately and should be completed no later than the end of summer. Along with tires, the business plans to offer oil changes, alignments, and state inspections. Barlowe added that mechanical service could be a possibility in the future.
“This is part of expanding our business,” Barlowe said. “If we expand in the retail level, then that also expands our wholesale level.”
Caldwell County EDC Executive Director Deborah Murray said the grant furthers the county’s economic momentum that has shown sustained growth in both retail and industrial sectors.
“We are excited to add a wholesaler and retailer with an excellent track record to Caldwell County,” Murray said. “And we are equally excited that this company’s investment will improve the entry way into Lenoir.”
The building dates back to 1970 when it was built by the Firestone Company as a tire center. Acquired by the New York Times on behalf of the News-Topic newspaper in 1993, the building has been vacant for the past two years.
“We hope to have 100 percent satisfaction,” Barlowe said. “We want to provide a nice, clean facility with store managers that know what they are talking about. We hope to have repeat customers.”
A Caldwell County Economic Development Commission Press Release (www.caldwelledc.org)