In an effort to better keep aware of its grant funds and the project those funds help pay for, Washington implemented a system to track them earlier this year.

City Council members said the system is providing them up-to-date information, something they find useful as they work on the upcoming budget for fiscal year 2014-2015, which begins July 1. Currently, there are 15 grants in place, according to a grant summary.

One of the grants is providing money to help Oak Ridge Metal Works complete its move to the Beaufort County Industrial Park as part of Project Blue Goose. The grant is for $320,000, with the city adding $30,000 toward the project.

So far, the project has generated $323,223.72 in expenditures. Reimbursements (including outstanding reimbursement requests) to date have come in at $313,223.72.

Project Blue Goose is composed of two entities: Pronamics Industries and Oak Ridge Metal Works. Pronamics Industries is setting up operations in the Quick Start II building at the Beaufort County Industrial Park. That building is known as the Blue Goose because of its exterior paint scheme. Oak Ridge Metal Works is expanding into the former Brooks Boatworks building at the industrial park.
Oak Ridge Metal Works plans to create up to 35 new jobs during a five-year period. Pronamics Industries plans to create up to 65 new jobs during those five years.

Most of the $200,000 grant to help five businesses in the city has been spent, according to the summary. So far, $187,777.85 has been spent.

The funding comes from the Division of Community Investment and Assistance��s Small Business and Entrepreneurial Assistance program. The primary purpose of the SBEA program is to provide funding to local governments to help jumpstart the growth of existing small businesses by expanding their businesses and creating new jobs. The local businesses participating in the program are Park Boat Company, Hospital Pharmacy, East Carolina Imports, FRE Plumbing and Pamlico Fencing. The grant conditions required them to contribute money toward their respective projects.

The original grant terms were changed last year.

Under the modified grant agreement’s terms, Tayloe Drug Co. (Hospital Pharmacy) would contribute $97,125 instead of the original $111,000 toward job training, with the goal of creating two new jobs. Eastern Carolina Import Services would contribute $7,875 instead of $9,000 toward the purchase of car lifts and equipment rehabilitation, with the goal of creating one new job. Pamlico Fence would contribute $21,875 instead of $25,000 toward buying a skid steer machine, with the goal of creating one new job.

FRE Plumbing would contribute $1,750 instead of $2,000 toward buying equipment, with the goal of creating one new job. Park Boat Co. would contribute $21,875 instead of $25,000 toward buying a truck and tractor, with the goal of retaining one existing job and creating two new jobs.

Their contributions total $150,500. Combined, the companies plan to retain one job and create seven new jobs, according to grant documents.