Pitt County economic developer earns top honors

Pitt County’s Kelly Andrews has earned one of two Economic Developer of the Year awards from the N.C. Economic Development Association.

Andrews was presented the award at the organization’s annual conference in Wilmington June 26. It recognizes members who have made significant and measurable contributions to their community and the North Carolina economic development community as a whole.

“We are incredibly proud that Kelly Andrews has been honored with this prestigious award. This recognition reflects her dedication, hard work, collaborative approach and unwavering commitment to excellence in fostering economic growth in our community,” said Pitt County Manager Janis Gallagher.

Over the past year, Pitt County Economic Development’s work has resulted in commitments to make $450 million in capital investments and add 1,000 jobs from new and existing industries such as Boviet Solar, Weyerhaeuser, Catalent, Atlantic Emergency Solutions and Minges Bottling Group, the county said. PCED also secured grants totaling over $2 million to support existing and future industrial growth.

Andrews, an International Economic Development Council Certified Economic Developer since 2020, earned a master’s in business administration from East Carolina University in 1998 and a bachelor of science in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1994.

She was named Pitt County Economic Development director in 2020. She previously served as assistant director since 2006.

Andrews currently serves on the association’s board and is chairwoman of the marketing committee.

Andrews also serves on the Pitt Community College Board of Trustees and the boards of the Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce, Pitt County Arts Council, Martin-Pitt Partnership for Children and ECU Engineering Advisory.

Page Castrodale, executive director at Cabarrus County Economic Development, was honored along with Andrews.