The Swain County Commissioners declared their county a Recovery Zone. County Manager Kevin King wanted the declaration so the county could be eligible for a $1.9 million interest-free loan from the $12 trillion national debt. The loan would pay for job creation. Said King:
We don’t know right now if we have the funds to pay the payment on [the loan]. We just wanted to make sure we weren’t out of the running for it.
Swain County has three months to figure out how to spend the money and prepare and submit a proposal. Economic Development Director Ken Mills thinks the funds might go toward an IT office building. Said Mills:
When we say IT, you’re looking at data services. You’re looking at possibly [meeting] government needs.
