Nashville – Nash County has announced the retirement of Andy Hagy, Director of Economic Development, following an accomplished career in economic development.
Hagy first joined Nash County in January 2020 to spearhead the beginning of the first county economic development program in 30 years, following the county’s departure from Carolinas Gateway Partnership in 2019.
His extensive experience in local, regional and state economic development, and a career in commercial real estate, has been instrumental in shaping Nash County’s transformation into a major player in the Research Triangle region and attracting and expanding national and international food processing, biotechnology and advanced manufacturing industries.
During his tenure, Hagy launched an initiative to increase the awareness of the Nash County’s strategic location within the Research Triangle region and eastern North Carolina, by working with partners such as the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, Research Triangle Regional Partnership, national and international site consultants and national commercial real estate brokers. He supervised a creative social marketing campaign to highlight and recognize Nash County as a premier business location within the Research Triangle region. The campaign highlighted the county’s 500 acres of certified industrial sites and business parks such as the Middlesex Corporate Centre, and the county’s shell building program which generated the sale of three buildings and construction of two more for a total of 350,000 square feet.
“Andy has played a pivotal role in positioning Nash County as a premier location in the Research Triangle region. His vision and commitment have created lasting opportunities for our community, and we are grateful for the foundation he has built for the County’s future”, said Nash County Board Chairman, Marvin Arrington.
Hagy worked with new and expanding national and international companies such Cummins, LS Tractor, SinnovaTek-First Wave Innovations, Crump Group, GETSCO, GXP-Storage, Braswell Farms, Eaton Aerospace Group and with the Nash Team helped create over 1,200 jobs and $1 billion capital investment for the county.
Hagy began his career in economic development in Virginia, on both county level and with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, as well as a commercial real estate and site consultant. Later he was recruited to lead a Greenbrier Valley regional economic development organization in West Virginia before he was appointed as economic development director for Nash County.
“I have enjoyed representing Nash County and attracting new companies that created new job opportunities, but what has been the most rewarding is assisting our local companies expand and continue to provide well-paying jobs and capital investment for the community,” Hagy said.
The Nash County Board of Commissioners congratulates Andy Hagy on his retirement and extends its gratitude for his years of service and lasting contributions to the county. Hagy’s last day is January 31st.