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Perdue picks Joines for economic post
He'll be chairman of state advisory board
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Published: May 7, 2009
Updated: 05/07/2009 12:45 am
The mayor of Winston-Salem, Allen Joines, says he plans to advocate for attracting businesses that focus on technology, "green" jobs and military-supported companies to North Carolina in his new role as the chairman of a state economic-advisory board.
Gov. Bev Perdue announced yesterday that she has appointed Joines, who has been Winston-Salem's mayor for eight years, as the chairman of the 37-member N.C. Economic Development Board. The board helps the N.C. Department of Commerce and the governor set policies that govern tax incentives for new businesses, trade policy, travel, tourism and other economic-development efforts.
His term will start July 1. He replaces Jordy Whichard of Greenville.
The position is unpaid. A spokeswoman for Perdue, Chrissy Pearson, said that his travel expenses would typically be reimbursed by the state, but that reimbursement might be eliminated because of budget restrictions.
The appointment makes Joines the second person from Winston-Salem on the current board. Richard Dean, the former director of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and former president of Wake Forest University Health Sciences, has served on the board since 2007.
Joines said he plans to develop a new economic plan for the state. He will be working with recently appointed Secretary of Commerce J. Keith Crisco of Asheboro.
"The whole issue of the ‘green economy' is a new area we want to look at," Joines said.
"I'm particularly interested in trying to identify the jobs of the future -- the industries of the future that we in North Carolina should be trying to position ourselves on."
The board meets four times a year around the state. Joines said he hopes to hold one of his first meetings in Winston-Salem. He said he expects to be able to balance the position with his duties as mayor.
Local economic-development officials said that Joines' chairmanship would benefit the Triad.
"For him to be able to advocate for the kind of economic-development growth that we see as important for our community -- what we're trying to do for the research park, etc. -- that is really important," said Gayle Anderson, the president of the Greater Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce. "He'll know how to balance the state's needs and also make sure that the needs of the Triad area get a fair hearing."
■ Laura Graff can be reached at 727-7279 or at lgraff@wsjournal.com.
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