Morganton approves two $75,000 loans to downtown restaurant Union Grill

The Morganton City Council unanimously approved two loans totaling $150,000 to support a downtown restaurant project at 112 West Union Street.

Finance Director Jesse Deque told the council the Main Street restaurant loan program will provide a $75,000 package aimed specifically at downtown restaurant recruitment; the program uses a half‑loan/half‑grant structure for eligible projects. The council approved a separate $75,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) loan tied to federal entitlement funds; the CDBG loan includes a job requirement the applicant must meet and will be monitored by the city for one year.

Why it matters: Staff said the private investment in the restaurant exceeds the loan amount and the financing is intended to spur downtown economic activity.

A councilmember moved to approve a $75,000 Main Street restaurant loan to Union Grill Inc. and 112 West Union LLC; the motion passed with all members saying "aye." A second motion approving the $75,000 CDBG loan — which staff said requires either five full‑time positions or ten part‑time positions to meet LMI job targets — also passed unanimously.

Jesse Deque said the business is investing roughly double what the city is providing and described the loans as part of an ongoing downtown recruitment program.