Two companies are eyeing land within the Pender Commerce Park, one that could potentially bring 50 jobs to the area initially.

The two entities – Polyhose Inc. and Mobrix LLC, according to county documents – were given the nod of approval by the Pender County Board of Commissioners at its meeting Monday for two separate purchase contracts in the industrial park off U.S. 421 in Pender County. The purchases are pending a 10-day upset bid period.

The purchase slated by Polyhose, which is dubbed “Project Cheddar,” is for nearly 9 acres of land for a price of $50,000 an acre. Commissioners approved the contract, which has a 60-day due diligence period. The purchase price is $410,000, according to county documents. 

“Project Cheddar, it’s a manufacturer … that we have been working with for over a year. And we hope that after the 10 days are up and the due diligence timeframe is met that we would have a chance. There’s some other state-level involvement that we have to wait and make sure comes to pass. But should that happen, we would have an announcement of a quality company that would create significant jobs and tax base in the community,” Scott Satterfield, CEO of Wilmington Business Development, said to commissioners Monday.

Satterfield said this project could bring close to 50 jobs initially.

Polyhose is an India-based multinational diversified industrial conglomerate focused on design, development, manufacturing and distribution of fluid conveyance product, according to its website. It has operations in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

“It is an international company … we think it’s going to be close to 50 jobs in the beginning but  . . . there will be also some, hopefully, some opportunities for growth, quickly. It’s a very dynamic company with a lot of really significant partners in the United States,” Satterfield told commissioners Monday.
 
Its salary range could be above the average wage in Pender County, he added.
 
Dubbed "Project Ramm," the purchase of 12.2 acres for a total of $634,400 was approved for Mobrix. That purchase price is contingent on the usable acreage at the site.

“Prior to the upset bid process being advertised the buyer will post a deposit of $31,720 (5% of purchase price) as earnest money that will be applied to the sale price at closing,” stated county agenda documents.

This contract has a due diligence period of 120 days, county officials said.

The registered agent with Mobrix is H. Chris Ramm in Winston-Salem, according to the N.C. Secretary of State website.

Ramm, owner of Mobrix LLC, declined Tuesday to comment further on the project.

Ramm has also been involved in the Wilmington area in his role as COO with Winston-Salem based Taylor Development Group, which in 2017 purchased Landfall Park North and Landfall Park South near Wrightsville Beach. The Pender County project, he said, is completely separate from his capacity with the Winston-Salem firm.

Both projects, if they move forward, could add to a growing list of businesses within the Pender Commerce Park. New York-based Acme Smoked Fish and Empire Distributors were the first tenants at the park.

Coastal Beverage Co. is relocating its Wilmington base to the Pender Commerce Park. FedEx Freight has also developed property at the park and received their certificate of occupancy in May, planning officials said.

“Let me reiterate that these projects still have due diligence requirements and are not completed or ready for announcement. Both projects represent significant investment in Pender Commerce Park and ultimately our region,” Satterfield said in an email Tuesday.

“Project Cheddar is an international manufacturing company that would establish a major distribution and assembly facility that could ultimately materialize into a manufacturing operation. Project Ramm would bring a significant asset to our region that could facilitate further economic development in terms of jobs and investment. We will continue to work with our economic development allies to push these projects across the finish line.”

Correction: This story has been updated to reflect the full name and title for Scott Satterfield, CEO of Wilmington Business Development.