THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 5, 1995 TAG: 9504050475
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CURRITUCK LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
Currituck County is again in the market for an economic development director.
The Board of Commissioners voted late Monday to hire someone to help attract businesses and tourists to the burgeoning bedroom community.
The county's first economic developer, Charles Hartig, left last summer to accept a job as public spokesman for neighboring Dare County.
Hartig's successor will have 12 months to prove that the position is worth keeping. Money for the job, which pays between $28,442 and $41,717, was already budgeted this fiscal year and is funded through a tax on tourism.
``I want this person to be able to bring small industry into the county,'' Commissioner Paul O'Neal said at Monday's board meeting.
``Something that will pay living wages is what I want this person to be concentrating on,'' he added.
The economic developer mainly will work to attract industry and businesses to Currituck County, one of the fastest growing areas in North Carolina.
The need for tax revenue from commercial development has become increasingly important to offset rapid residential growth in the northern and southern parts of the county.
Currituck's work force in 1990 included 43.7 percent white-collar jobs and 37.3 percent blue-collar jobs, according to the U.S. Census.
Another 14 percent of county residents held service jobs, followed by 4.8 percent who earned a living in farming, fishing or forestry.
The new economic development director also will be the primary person who supports the economic development board.
If all goes according to plans, by 2013 Currituck County will be a major economic force in northeastern North Carolina, teeming with highly skilled workers.
People will commute along widened highways or a mid-county bridge to Currituck's Outer Banks beaches, and others will use additional air transportation. At the same time, the county hopes to hold onto its rural flavor by protecting wetlands and promoting its wildlife heritage.
Since the economic development position was created in 1992, the need for someone to promote industry and tourism in Currituck County has been debated.
``I'm still very hesitant on being sure we need to hire one,'' said County Commissioner Gene Gregory.
``I know we need the jobs. . . . But Currituck County is a fragile county,'' Gregory said. ``And on the lower end, we just can't handle a lot of industry.
``Most businesses coming in now would be coming in anyway,'' Gregory said. ``Though, I may be wrong.''
Since Hartig left, many of his responsibilities have fallen on County Clerk Gwen Tatem, who has handled some of the county-owned Whalehead Club operations, and on Bob Henley, vice chairman of the economic development board.
``They simply can't continue as they are,'' said County Manager Bill Richardson.
Public relations would also be an important role of the economic developer.
``We need that focal point when folks call and they want to know about Currituck County,'' Richardson said.
The county economic development board will review applicants, then a committee will interview top candidates for the post. by CNB