Brunswick County restructures economic development department

BOLIVIA, NC (WWAY) — Tuesday the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners voted to combine the county’s Planning and Community Development department and Economic Development department. The commission voted to name Planning Director Mike Hargett as the Director of Economic Development and Planning Services.

Mike Hargett (Source Brunswick County)

County officials said the merger is expected to increase collaboration and resource sharing between the  departments, and to help with communication between the two departments and enhance services to customers.

County staff  said they are going to look for an economic development manager, who will report to Hargett. A planning manager will also be selected, and will similarly report to Hargett.

 According to a release Hargett was hired as Brunswick County Planning Director in November of 2013. Before that Hargett served as Town Administrator for Carolina Shores, and previously worked for the city of Wilmington as Assistant City Manager, Development Services Director, Budget Officer and in Planning. He also owned a private company which did planning work on a contractual basis for towns in Brunswick and Columbus counties, among others, and worked as a private developer, primarily in Brunswick County.

This is isn’t the first change the department has seen in the last few weeks. Last we learned Michael DiTullo, the county’s new economic development director, had resigned.