STANFIELD — O.B. Builders, a Concord-based manufacturer of residential building components, recently announced that it has chosen to construct a new facility in Stanfield.
The company is a turnkey supplier to the multi-family housing industry and has evolved over the past 25 years from a labor-only installation subcontractor of interior doors and trim to a full-service material supplier.
O.B. Builders will be located at the Riverstone Industrial Park at the corner of Browns Hill Road and Riverstone Drive.
“Stanly County felt like home,” company president Bryan Dauzat said in a press release. “Being from Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, I know what it is like to be a part of a community that focuses on true down home roots and investing back in itself.”
Dauzat continued: “A lot has changed from the day of putting on a tool belt and swinging a hammer, but I still make it a point to visit job sites and spend time in my door shop. I am excited for this new milestone and look to continue our growth not just for the business, but for the employees who make it the company it is.”
On Nov. 6, the Stanly County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved an eight-year, 75% economic development incentive grant that will help the company create 11 new jobs and relocate 47 employees as it invests an estimated $6.7 million in real and business personal property.
“We welcome O.B. Builders and their employees to Stanly County and the Riverstone Industrial Park,” Chairman Scott Efird said in a statement. “This project demonstrates Stanly County’s vision for Riverstone and our commitment to creating opportunities for new and expanding businesses which will provide high-quality jobs for our citizens.”
In order to support the project, Stanly commissioners also voted 7-0 at their recent meeting to approve a land conveyance of 12.122 acres of property from the county to O.B. Builders for a one-time monetary payment of $728,738.27, equaling $60,117 per acre.
Stanly County Economic Development Commission director Candice Lowder confirmed that the county retains the right to reclaim the property if there is a diversion from the agreed plans during the purchasing process; the land conveyance contains a right of first refusal that will follow the transaction up until the building is constructed since the county purchased the property.
“Our goal was to create new investment and create jobs,” Lowder said. “Once that’s fulfilled, the board — with counsel from the county manager and our attorney — said that they will have met their obligations at that point once the investment and jobs are created.”
On behalf of the project, the Stanly County EDC has thanked the Town of Stanfield, Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, the Rural Infrastructure Authority, Gov. Roy Cooper, the North Carolina General Assembly, North Carolina Department of Commerce, the Golden LEAF Foundation, the North Carolina Community College System and Stanly Community College.
“I would like to extend a warm welcome to O.B. Builders,” Stanfield Mayor James Kluttz said in a statement. “Their decision to establish its presence in our community is a testament to the endless possibilities and potential our town and county holds. We are honored to be chosen as the new home for their operations, and we eagerly anticipate the positive impact they will have, both economically and socially.”
“As a community, we extend our full support to O.B. Builders in their endeavors,” Kluttz added. “We are committed to working hand in hand, facilitating a smooth transition, and providing any assistance needed to ensure their success. Together, we will forge a partnership that will benefit not only their organization but also the entire community.”