County agrees to add welcome center to Ag Center

ASHEBORO — With the money left over from building the Agricultural Center, Randolph County now plans to add a welcome center.

At the Board of Commissioners meeting on Aug. 3, County Engineer Paxton Arthurs said for nearly $3 million, a another 4,714-square-foot building could be put on the southwest side of the property across from the food hub.

The commissioners voted to contract HH Architecture to do design, bidding and construction administration for $279,300.

Arthurs said the staff hired for the Ag Center are temporarily working out of the NC Cooperative Extension. The Tourism Development Authority (TDA) has also asked to move to the Ag Center.

Arthurs said HH made a preliminary design to determine how much space will be needed and recommended a building with five offices for Ag Center staff, six offices for the TDA, and shared conference and reception space. 

The design included a front porch, which Arthurs said they liked because it makes it more inviting. The welcome center should not affect what’s already been built, he said, except possibly cutting into the parking lot.

The TDA has been hoping to move to the Ag Center since it was just a concept. Executive Director Amber Scarlett told commissioners at their meeting on Dec. 4, 2023, that the building on Albemarle Road is too small and out of the way for most visitors. She said moving to the Ag Center will also help them expand relationships with the hotels nearby.

County Manager Zeb Holden said TDA has agreed to help pay for the welcome center.

Staff expects design and construction to total $2,995,050. Holden said there is about $3.5 million left in the Ag Center building budget.

Commissioner David Allen said his main concern before voting was making sure all the smaller projects left around the Ag Center have the funds. He asked Arthurs about the status of work. 

“Finishing up the ponds out there, the turn-ins, the fencing,” he said. 

“Is there enough money to cover that plus this?” Arthurs said there will be.

Allen also asked if they are no longer planning to add a maker space on that section of the land. Arthurs said they decided against it after touring maker spaces and reviewing the liabilities.

Holden add that the county has received interest income to the Ag Center funds to help cover all the work.

The commissioners voted unanimously to approve the contract.