Centralina Economic Development District

The Centralina EDD serves a region of nine counties, including Anson, Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly and Union.

Organization

Our mission is to increase the prosperity and job creation of greater Charlotte by serving the local institutions in our region that serve the needs of businesses, workers, and students.

The Centralina Economic Development District (CDD) was established by Centralina Regional Council in 2004. In 2005, the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA) certified the Centralina Economic Development District (EDD). In 2019, with the creation of this website and new data portal, the Centralina EDD started doing business as the Centralina Economic Development District and now operates under this new name as an organization. The Centralina EDD mission from its inception in 2004 is to promote a diversified and innovative regional economic base, advocate sustainable growth, and support jobs development through expansion, retention, and recruitment of business and industry.

Our vision: The greater Charlotte region collaborates to inclusively support businesses, innovators and individuals in reaching a prosperous and globally-connected future.

Areas of Focus

The Centralina EDD aids in coordinating economic development efforts in the Charlotte region. The Centralina EDD is responsible for administering EDA funding for economic development projects across the region, developing and maintaining the region’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), and consolidating economic development resources to empower our partner institutions in their mission to grow the region.

To accomplish these tasks, the Centralina EDD focuses on three core areas.

History

2004
  • No Boundaries CEDS adopted
  • Centralina EDD founded & approved by the nine county governments
2005
  • Centralina EDD facilitates EDA UNC Charlotte Optoelectronics grant project
2006
  • Advanced Manufacturing Phase I Reports are released
2007
  • No Boundaries CEDS five-year update
  • Advanced Manufacturing Phase II & County Reports are released
  • Centralina EDD facilitates the David Belk Cannon Health Education Institute EDA grant project for Gaston College
2008
  • Centralina EDD administers Huntersville overpass EDA grant project
2009
2010
2011
  • Facilitates EDA grant for advanced skills center at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
2013
2014
2019
  • New website updated, organization publicly rebranded as Centralina Economic Development District (EDD)

Board of Directors

Board directors are recommended by regional member governments. The board is made up of at least 25 individuals representing the region’s nine counties, two dues-paying municipalities, economic development organizations, and select private-sector industries.

Chair

Miles AtkinsTown of Mooresville - Mayor

Vice-Chair

Bill ThunbergLake Norman Regional Transportation Commission

Treasurer/Secretary

Leslie JohnsonMecklenburg County

Ex-Officio

Geraldine Ide GardnerExecutive Director, Centralina Regional Council
Leigh Altman
Mecklenburg County Commissioner
Melinda Bales
Town of Huntersville, Mayor
Jenn Bosser
Iredell County EDC, Executive Director
Mark Brady
First Reliance Bank
Michelle Brock
South Piedmont Community College
Cliff Brumfield
Lincoln County EDA, Executive Director
Antony Burton
Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, VP of Research
Astrid Chirinos
Simmons YMCA, Executive Director
Rod Crider
Rowan County EDC, Executive Director
Tracy Dodson
City of Charlotte, Assistant City Manager
Mike Downs
Cabarrus County Manager
Greg Edds
Rowan County Commissioner
Donny Hicks
Gaston County EDC Executive Director
Mary Hoglund
Spectrum Enterprise
Bob Hovis
Gaston County Commissioner
Alan Kathman
FLIR Optical Components Charlotte Site Manager
Candice Lowder
Economic Development Director, Stanly County
Beth Mull
Iredell County Manager
Melanie Underwood
Economic Development Partnership of NC
David Hollars
Centralina Workforce Development Board
Jarvis Woodburn
Anson County Commissioner

Partners

The Centralina EDD supports and empowers local government jurisdictions and economic development entities across the greater Charlotte region’s Centralina Economic Development District (EDD).