CJ executive editor Don Carrington breaks the story while the N&O follows up on Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary Henry McCoy’s scheme to direct federal funds to his nonprofit.

Lots of Triad ties here — Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco — who may or may not have signed off on McCoy’s plan — is from Asheboro; the Winston-Salem-based Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation “gave the Sustainability Center a $150,000 grant to cover its first two years”; and Yadkin County would be a recipient of funds for a “Community Capacity Building” program.

Looks like a classic government money laundering scheme. Carrington writes:

Each county then would be required to turn over the remaining $540,000 to NCSC for planning and research activities. NCSC would receive a total of $2.16 million. Records indicate McKoy began discussing the project in November and that he met in person with officials in at least three, if not all, of the counties to discuss it. Carolina Journal was unable to determine how he selected the four counties.

All in the name of ‘sustainability,’ yet another government scam.