DOBSON — The Surry County Board of Commissioners voted before a nearly empty room last night to approve industrial incentives for “Project Protect.”

The board reconvened at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, following its Monday meeting, to hold a public hearing on the proposed incentive package. In less than 10 minutes, the meeting was over.

The commissioners, minus absent Craig Hunter, voted unanimously to approve the purchase of an existing industrial facility on Newsome Street in Mount Airy, for $950,607.62 as an incentive for Project Protect. The facility, which consists of two primary buildings, will be leased to the company for $1 a year for at least five years. The company has the right of first refusal to acquire the facility during the five-year lease term.

In return the company must provide up to 114 full-time positions in Mount Airy within 12 months and a total of 200 permanent positions within 24 months. County Attorney Ed Woltz pointed out that the company has agreed with the state to create 221 jobs, so the number of positions may be higher.

As the resolution states, the company also “proposes to invest in machinery, equipment and personal property totaling at least $2,500,000 over and above its 2009 tax value, by January 1, 2012.”

If the company meets its commitments, the county will convey the facility to the company at the end of the five-year lease. If it fails, the company must reimburse the county with fair market lease payments for each year it fails to meet commitments.

Prior to their vote, the commissioners held a public hearing on the incentives. Jan Critz of the Surry County Economic Development Partnership was the only person to speak during the hearing. In addition to Critz, only one member of the press and one member of the public attended the meeting.

Critz said, “Our community will be able to reap the benefits of over 200 new jobs, a supportive corporate citizen, and a manufactured product that we will all be proud of in the national and international markets.”

Commissioner Craig Hunter was not present at the meeting. He is not participating on any votes on this project to avoid any conflict of interest. Hunter is part-owner of Facilities Corporation of America, the company that is listing and receiving commissions from the purchased property for Project Protect. Kentucky Derby Hosiery Company is the owner of the property on Newsome Street.

The board passed a resolution of disclosure stating that Hunter would have no involvement in the board’s decisions regarding the Newsome Street property.

The name of the Project Protect company has not been officially released yet. Critz said the governor will make the announcement once the state has also finished its negotiations with the company. Critz said she wasn’t sure when this would take place.

Contact Meghann Evans at mevans@mtairynews.com or 719-1952.