RALEIGH, (SGRToday.com) - North Carolina's Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved a building reuse grant of $500,000 for the city of Thomasville.

New Commerce Secretary John Skvarla made the announcement, which includes a commitment for 40 new full-time jobs from a private firm, according to a story in a Commerce Department e-publication.

The buildings involved have been vacant for three years and date back to the 1970s and 1980s. The grant will help refurbish them for the manufacturing company that will move in: Ennis-Flint.

The RIA was established as part of the Rural Economic Development Division at the N.C. Department of Commerce to assist with the review and approval of grants for rural areas in the state.