Gaston County, N.C., leaders released a plan to boost the local economy and create jobs after COVID-19, with funding for a new fleet facility among the proposed construction projects.

The county’s CARE (Capital and Relief Expansion) Plan identifies immediate and long-term projects that are essential to the county and would help stimulate economic growth. Immediate projects would be funded by capital funds in the current fiscal year (FY-2020), including $2 million in (Americans with Disabilities Act) ADA compliance updates to several county facilities and $2 million in improvements to county parking lots.

Long-term projects include $28.5 million for an Emergency Medical Services, Emergency Management, and Telecommunications facility and $11.25 million for a new fleet maintenance facility. Both projects would be relocations from previous facilities. According to the plan, the county could issue debt to finance the projects, which would allow it to continue to infuse money into the economy and keep people working.

The CARE Plan also includes $1 million for programs to help citizens directly through food banks, housing assistance, daycare supplements, prescription assistance, and other programs.