A $22,800 grant brings the Town of Hoffman one step closer to its goal of increasing economic development by replacing septic tanks with a sewer system, one councilman says.

“Several businesses wanted to re-locate to Hoffman, but having to have septic tanks was a drawback,” said Hoffman Town Councilman Daniel Kelly. “We had a major food store chain, a medical clinic, a car wash, a Laundromat and even a restaurant wanting to move here, and we are trying to attract that business.”

The North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center, Inc., agreed in December to fund a survey gauging the feasibility of a sewer system. According to Kelly, Hoffman’s initial grant proposal was turned down, but town officials were determined.

“We put up $8,000 ourselves,” he said. “Mayor JoAnne Thomas worked very hard on this and found a firm, McGill Associates in Asheville, that is very good and can do the survey quickly and efficiently.”

Kelly added that proposed new construction for both a church and a housing development has been put on hold until the parties involved get the results of the survey stating how many people and businesses in Hoffman are able to switch to a sewer system.

“It’s like our mayor says - we may be small and on the northern end of the county, but we are a part of Richmond County - and we want our citizens to know that their town government is working hard to improve their quality of life.”