County Appoints First Economic Development Director

COMPILED FROM NEWS SOURCES

January 4, 2013

Northampton County has appointed Charles McSwain as its first Director of Economic Development.

The county has lacked any comparable position since 2003, when the director of sustainable development position became vacant.

Effective January 14, McSwain will be responsible for coordinating and overseeing all economic development, including increased business recruitment, job creation and diversification of the county tax base.

He also will oversee a re-organized department that will encompass planning, zoning, building inspections, and code enforcement.

A Northampton County press release describes McSwain as “an experienced economic development professional with significant private and public sector experience in real estate development, team management, and project siting.”

McSwain operated a private consulting firm for the past three years in Florida focused on developing strategy and policy for transportation efficiency and business retention and expansion.

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Previously, McSwain worked 21 years for CSX Corporation and led the industrial development team for railroad component CSX Transportation, Inc.

McSwain is a member of the International Economic Development Council and the Industrial Asset Management Council, where he is a founding board member and past chair.

McSwain holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of South Florida and received a Certification in Economic Development from a predecessor of the International Economic Development Council.