Mike Hargett named Director of Economic Development and Planning

BOLIVIA, N.C. — The Brunswick County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to name Planning Director Mike Hargett as the Director of Economic Development and Planning Services.

As part of the Board’s vote, the Planning and Community Development department and the Economic Development department will be consolidated. Hargett will serve as Director of the consolidated Economic Development and Planning department. The County will advertise and recruit for an Economic Development Manager, who will report to Hargett. A Planning Manager will also be selected, and will similarly report to Hargett.

The departmental merger is expected to increase collaboration and resource sharing between the two departments, and to facilitate communication between the two departments and enhance services to customers.

Hargett was hired as Brunswick County Planning Director in November of 2013. Prior to working for Brunswick County, 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.