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City Approves Job Creation Grant for Grover Gaming
Post Date:02/18/2020 10:56 AM
GREENVILLE, N.C. - A local business that develops software and gaming systems will soon be expanding its headquarters with some assistance from the City of Greenville.
Grover Gaming, Inc. was awarded a Job Creation Grant during the February 13 Greenville City Council meeting as an incentive for creating 100 new jobs in the Greenville area. The jobs are the result of a $350,000 expansion of the company's headquarters located at 3506 Northeast Greenville Boulevard.
The development agreement awards up to $500,000 to Grover Gaming over a five-year grant period. The new jobs will include anticipated salaries ranging from $30,000-$105,000 for positions such as software developers, studio producers, operations specialists, Unity game developers, 3D artists, quality assurance engineers, technical support representatives, and audio designers.
"We are excited to be able to enter into this agreement with Grover Gaming to help bring additional jobs to our city," Greenville Mayor P.J. Connelly said. "As a Council, that has always been one of our top priorities. Anytime we can accomplish that by helping a homegrown business grow, it is even more rewarding."
Founded in Greenville with offices in six states, Grover Gaming is a software development and design company that specializes in electronic gaming throughout the United States and Canada. Grover Gaming evolved from a small gaming route started by founder Garrett Blackwelder in 2003, to a company of more than 160 employees that is focused on building a strong foundation of humble, passionate people, effective processes, and superior products.
"We really look forward to this partnership with the City of Greenville," said Garrett Blackwelder, President of Grover Gaming. "Eastern North Carolina is our home, and we hope that these 100 new jobs will be an economic driver in the community and contribute to its future prosperity and development. Our goal is to recruit talented and passionate professionals to Greenville and the surrounding areas, as well as retain our homegrown and local talent."
According to the agreement, all new jobs must be created within two years and be maintained until December 31, 2027. All new employees are required to work at the company's headquarters in Greenville.
Greenville's Job Creation Grants include three options. The first option is a full-time job creation option, designated for companies making at least a $500,000 investment and adding at least 25 full-time employees. It applies to companies locating or expanding in the City limits or in the extra territorial jurisdiction (ETJ), and it has a maximum installment of $100,000.
A second option is the property tax investment and full-time job creation grant designated for companies making at least a $500,000 investment and hiring at least 50 full-time employees. It is based on a 50-75 percent increase in property tax with a maximum installment of $150,000, and it applies only to companies locating or expanding in the City limits.
The last option, the economic development investment (EDI) zone option, is designated for companies making at least a $300,000 investment and hiring at least 15 new full-time employees within specifically prioritized zones of the city. The zones are designated revitalization areas, growing areas of the city, and gateways into the community. Seven zones are designated now, including the airport, center city, Dickinson Avenue, East Tenth Street, medical and west Greenville zones.
For more information about the City's Job Creation Grant, contact the City Manager's Office at (252) 329-4502. For more information about Grover Gaming, contact Marc Downing at (252) 214-7066.