COLUMBUS JOBS FOUNDATION

The North Carolina Museum of Science in Whiteville’s Foundation Board Chairman Bill Thompson, right, accepts a $21,000 check from John K. Elliott, Duke Energy’s director of government and community relations. Others in the photo are Gary Lanier, Charles Yelton, Jennifer Holcomb, Keith Alsup, Carlton Williamson and Butch Blanchard, left to right. Yelton is regional director of the N.C. Museum of Science in Raleigh and the others are members of the local museum Foundation Board

In a split 6-1 vote, the Columbus County Board of Commissioners last Monday approved a $100,000 grant to the Columbus Jobs Foundation’s revolving loan fund to be used for economic development. Commissioners had to tiptoe in their discussion around revealing confidential economic development matters concerning what has been code-named “Project Splinter,” said to involve a company that will support another larger company that wants to locate on the vacant Georgia-Pacifi c indus