The New Faces of Burlington Economic Development

City of Burlington

Economic Development Office

June 30, 2022

The New Faces of Burlington Economic Development

The City of Burlington has some new faces around town! Within the Economic Development office, there are two new hires – Erin McClure Nettles, the Downtown Manager, and Isabella DeLaGarza, who is completing a year-long graduate fellowship through Elon University. Both individuals are excited to be a part of the team and want to share a bit about themselves! 

Erin brings a wealth of business and non-profit experience to the Downtown Manager position. Having grown up in Graham, North Carolina, she is no stranger to the downtown scene. For four generations, her family has owned a furniture store, which kept her around downtown activity for most of her life. Erin completed a Bachelor of Arts in Parks and Recreation at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, then moved to Washington, D.C. where she worked as a conference planner for non-profits and associations. Throughout this experience, she gained skills within event planning, marketing, and non-profit management. Erin has also lived in Durham, North Carolina, and worked in Montana on a ranch. When asked about her decision to spend two years in the mountains in work that was completely unrelated to her career path, she said that the adventure was “speaking to who I was at that time.” After the journey of a lifetime, Erin eventually settled down in Burlington with her husband, two young children, and their dog. 

Burlington has brought both familiarity and excitement to Erin and her family. Being close to downtown, with plenty of activities and small businesses to engage with in a welcoming community, Erin will be able to see how her work is able to create changes on a local level. She is passionate about the downtown area with its strong presence in the Piedmont Triad and hopes to use her experiences – both personal and professional – to spur revitalization. By drawing on her own history with downtown areas, her work in public relations, and her love for the Burlington area, her commitment to the Downtown Manager position puts the city in safe hands. One of the first and foremost projects that Erin is working on regards the Paramount Theater, which is undergoing expansion and renovation efforts as an entertainment outlet to the downtown scene. Her favorite Burlington downtown activities are Fourth Fridays and community events held at the Depot with her family – so be sure to look for her at upcoming events! 

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Isabella DeLaGarza is a recent graduate of Elon University, and the newfound writer of the Economic Development newsletter and blogs. She completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Policy Studies and Spanish. Isabella is one of six Fellows in the Elon Year of Service Fellowship, a cohort of young professionals committing their first year of post-graduate work to serving the greater Burlington community. Throughout the year, she will be working here in Economic Development. 

Isabella was born in Houston, Texas, but has lived in North Carolina since she was two. Growing up in Rutherfordton, North Carolina has given her some downtown experience of her own. Activity in her small town often meant frequenting the coffee shops, antique stores, boutiques, and other local businesses on the main street. Watching her hometown grow and expand has enlightened her to the similar changes in Burlington’s downtown, and she is excited to apply her experiences and her education to service in the city. 

“Sometimes it feels like I ran away from one small town and into the next. But I am excited to see how engaging in this community will help me grow in my post-graduate career,” she said. Eventually, Isabella hopes to pursue a career in international relations. She studied Latin American culture in her undergrad to pay homage to her Mexican heritage, and because she feels it is essential to stay connected to as much of the world as possible. “We all have things in common, and all have things we can learn from each other; that is why Economic Development is so important. We seek to represent the businesses in our community, while simultaneously working with the local government to balance legislation.” 

If you see either Erin or me around Downtown Burlington, be sure to say hello! We are committed to the work that the City of Burlington does on behalf of its residents and are excited to see what the future has in store. 

Be sure to stay connected through the Economic Development Newsletter, and through social media for Downtown Burlington.

Instagram @burlingtondowntown
Facebook @Burlington Downtown Corp.

Isabella DeLaGarza, EYOS Fellow

Downtown Burlington Contact
Erin Nettles
425 S. Lexington Ave. 
Burlington, NC 27215
enettles@burlingtonnc.gov

City Contact 
Isabella DeLaGarza
425 S. Lexington Ave. 
Burlington, NC 27215
idelagarza@burlingtonnc.gov
burlingtonnc.gov/ed