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Gene McLaurin, who has served as chair of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina for the last five years, has been reappointed for a four-year term in the same position.
McLaurin was first appointed to the EDPNC board in 2017 by former Gov. Roy Cooper, who then later appointed McLaurin as chair in 2021. During that time, North Carolina has experienced an unprecedented amount of economic development success. Since 2021, companies have announced over 122,000 new jobs and $91 billion worth of investment in the state.
“I am honored that Gov. Stein has reappointed me as Chair of the EDPNC Board,” McLaurin said. “Since joining this board in 2017, I have witnessed firsthand the positive impact of our innovative public-private model in driving economic growth across North Carolina. This approach has consistently delivered results, benefiting communities throughout the state. I am excited to continue collaborating with our exceptional bipartisan board as well as with our CEO Christopher Chung and the dedicated staff of EDPNC.”
McLaurin has been a leader in both the North Carolina private and public sectors for decades. For 15 years, he served as mayor of Rockingham before serving one term in the North Carolina State Senate. McLaurin is also the president and CEO of Quality Oil Company, which has offices in Rockingham, Laurinburg, Lumberton, and Wadesboro.
A native of Rockingham – a city of 8,800 in Richmond County – McLaurin’s passion for promoting economic development in the state’s rural communities has been reflected in EDPNC’s success in driving investment in all areas of the state. During McLaurin’s time as chair of EDPNC, over 20,000 jobs and $21 billion worth of investment have been announced in North Carolina’s Tier 1 counties, defined as the most economically distressed areas in the state.
About the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina
The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) is a private nonprofit corporation that serves as North Carolina’s statewide economic development organization. Governed by an 18-member board of business and industry leaders from across the state, the EDPNC focuses on business and job recruitment, existing industry support, international trade, tourism and film marketing. The EDPNC, which operates under contract with the North Carolina Department of Commerce, works closely with public- and private-sector partners at the state, regional and local levels. To learn more, visit www.edpnc.com.