Centralina Economic Development District
Union County
Cabarrus County
Gaston County
Mecklenburg County
Lincoln County
Iredell County
Rowan County
Stanly County
Anson County
The Centralina EDD serves a region of 9 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 Commission (CEDC) was established by Centralina Regional Council in 2004. In 2005, the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA) certified the CEDC as the Centralina Economic Development District (EDD). In 2019, with the creation of this website and new data portal, the CEDC 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.
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 four core areas, as laid out in the 2017-2022 Prosperity for Greater Charlotte Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy.
Learn About Our Goals and Progress
History
- No Boundaries CEDS adopted
- CEDC founded & approved by the nine county governments
- CEDC facilitates EDA UNC Charlotte Optoelectronics grant project
- Advanced Manufacturing Phase I Reports are released
- No Boundaries CEDS five-year update
- Advanced Manufacturing Phase II & County Reports are released
- CEDC facilitates the David Belk Cannon Health Education Institute EDA grant project for Gaston College
- CEDC administers Huntersville overpass EDA grant project
- EDA-funded Automotive Supply Chain Reports are released
- Logistics Alliance of the Carolinas launched with EDA support
- CEDC administers Lincoln County sewer EDA grant project
- Minds that Manufacture website launched with EDA support
- Facilitates EDA grant for advanced skills center at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
- Connect Our Future HUD Sustainable Communities 2040 plan stimulates regional collaboration with 2012 CEDS integrated as economic foundation
- Prosperity for Greater Charlotte CEDS five year update adopted
- CEDC releases NC Tomorrow statewide collaboration development strategy
- Facilitates EDA grant for advanced manufacturing center at Gaston Community College
- NADO Innovation Award for Prosperity for Greater Charlotte/CONNECT Our Future
- Centralina Career Headlight web portal launched
- CEDC facilitates EDA grant for Advanced Manufacturing Center at Stanly Community College
- White House Roundtable - Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP)
- 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.
Treasurer/Secretary
Leigh Altman
Mecklenburg County Commissioner
Melinda Bales
Town of Huntersville, Mayor Pro Tem
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
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
Dennis Rape
Union County Commissioner
Melanie Underwood
Economic Development Partnership of NC
Anna Lu Wilson
Centralina Workforce 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).
Centralina EDD Board Member Governments
Centralina EDD Economic Development Partners
- Anson County Economic Development Partnership
- Cabarrus Economic Development Commission
- Gaston County Economic Development Commission
- Iredell County Economic Development Commission
- Lake Norman Economic Development Commission
- Lincoln Economic Development Association
- Monroe-Union County Economic Development Commission
- Rowan Economic Development Commission
- Stanly County Economic Development Commission
- Charlotte Regional Business Alliance
- NC Economic Development Partnership - Southwest Region