Burke Development, Inc. Aids Case Farms in Obtaining $500,000 Grant

Case Farms has been awarded a $500,000 grant from N.C. Rural Economic Development Center, which will be used for an expansion project that will add 100 jobs for Burke County. Burke Development staff, along with other community leaders who helped with the project, is thankful for Case Farms for their additional investment and commitment to the area, and for the many ways this company gives back to the community. “Case Farms has been part of our business community for many years and it is good to see that they will be able to expand their current operations through this grant,” said Wayne Abele, Chairman of Burke County Commissioners. “Case Farms, one of Burke County’s largest employers, not only provides jobs, they also offer a lot of support to charitable organizations in our community. The company helps many of our local schools, supports community events and offers donations to non-profit organizations that distribute food to needy families. We are thankful for both their economic and philanthropic impact on our community.” “Case Farms has been a staple in the Morganton business community for more than 20 years. We are dedicated to investing in the Morganton community by supplying jobs and producing a high-quality product,” said Charles Rigdon, Vice President and General Manager of the Case Farms facility in Morganton. The grant was received through the Building Reuse and Restoration Program, which assists communities in maximizing the economic potential of existing structures. In addition to Burke, the project will also have an economic impact on six other counties: Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Lincoln, McDowell and Rutherford. Scott Darnell, BDI President, worked closely with Cleveland County to help make the project a success. The mill in Cleveland County produces chicken feed that is distributed to farmers and breeders in six counties. That facility had to be expanded in order to have more feed to meet the demand required for the additional chickens. Cleveland County Board of Commission also offered CASE Farms a tax incentive for the capital investment made there. “We are proud to help our existing industries in their efforts to grow and expand their local operations. Most grants today are tied to job creation, so it was our role to find available opportunities that would aid in the success of this overall project,” said Darnell. “In today’s economic development environment, adding 100 new jobs is great news. Our BDI Board of Directors and Staff will continue to do all we can to aid businesses in Burke County and create opportunities such as these, which will have a positive economic impact on our area for many years to come.” “We appreciate the continued support Case Farms offers to our community and their dedication to supplying local jobs,” said Mel Cohen, Mayor of Morganton. “By reinvesting in our town and maximizing their facilities, Case Farms is taking considerable steps to remain a constant part of the Morganton business community. We are thankful for their role in our community.” About Burke Development, Inc. Burke Development, Inc. (BDI) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization supported by private and public funding that is charged with accelerating economic growth in Burke County. BDI works with industry leaders, site selection consultants, government agencies and other entities to facilitate expansion strategies for existing businesses and recruit target industries to Burke County. For more information about BDI visit www.burkedevinc.com. About Case Farms Founded in 1986, Case Farms is a fully integrated poultry farming and processing group of dedicated individuals that work together to produce consistent, quality poultry products. Its driving purpose is to deliver superior products and service to every customer, every time. Case Farms processes 1.8 million birds per week, has over 2,500 team members, and produces in excess of 600 million pounds of fresh, partially cooked and frozen-for-export poultry products per year. The company has operations or offices in Maryland, Ohio and North Carolina. For more information on Case Farms, visit www.casefarms.com.

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Burke Development Incorporated, BDI, is a nonprofit 501c3 organization supported by private and public funding that is charged with accelerating economic growth in Burke County. BDI works with industry leaders, site selection consultants, existing businesses, government agencies and other entities to promote growth, innovation and sustainability in Burke County. For more information about BDI visit www.BurkeDevInc.com.