Craven formally withdraws from economic development group

By Sue Book, Sun Journal Staff

Craven County pulled out of North Carolina’s Eastern Region economic development group in January and has already deposited its $1.5 million refund.

Craven County member Mark Griffin of Dover delivered the county’s message to the group based in Kinston almost six months before the state ended by statute the NC Eastern Region for all 13 member counties. The law ended state financing of all seven N.C. regional economic development groups that were established in 1993.

But a public-private regional offshoot called NCEast Alliance seeking to replace it continues to list Craven County as a participant.

This week, Craven County Economic Development Director Timothy Downs requested that the Craven County Board of Commissioners act to formally withdraw from the Alliance with a resolution, which also asks for the rest of its money back.

Downs said that will be 10.9 percent of the total money remaining; Craven’s check is expected to be about $198,000.

Commissioners acted unanimously Monday night to make it undeniably clear that the county does not plan to join the Alliance now. More here.