Bishop was selected from a competitive, nation-wide base of applicants as the result of a rigorous assessment and screening process. Bishop will begin his work as the City of Burlington’s first Economic Development Director on November 28th.
Bishop comes to the City of Burlington from Currituck County, NC where he has served as the Director of Economic Development for the past 9 years. Some of his notable accomplishments while in that role include: the development an 85-acre shovel-ready State-certified industrial park, managing the development of a 3,300-acre mixed-use Mega Site, and transforming the County’s branding and marketing efforts. In the last year alone, he landed over $350 million in new investment, over 300 full-time jobs, and secured $10 million in grant funding to support infrastructure growth for Currituck County.
Prior to his employment with Currituck County, Bishop, a native of Ohio, worked as a commercial real estate broker in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy with a minor in Law and Social Thought from the University of Toledo and a Master’s in Public Administration with a specialization in urban economic development from Cleveland State University. He is currently furthering his education by pursuing an International Economic Development Council (IEDC) certification.
"I'm excited and humbled to be selected as the City's first director of Economic Development,” said Bishop of his appointment. “For me, this is truly a dream job with unmatched opportunity. Burlington has a rich history of innovation in manufacturing, textiles, transportation and biomedical services. I look forward to working hard to serve the City Council, citizens and businesses in continuing Burlington's growth and redevelopment efforts. The City has an excellent portfolio of assets that are primed to compete in an ever-global contest for new job creation and investment - its workforce, transportation network, sites, historic Downtown and small-town charm will add value to any company considering North Carolina. I can't wait to get started working with the excellent City leadership, staff, County and State partners to leverage these assets for the benefit of our residents and businesses."
The Economic Development Department will consist of a director and a project manager and will work to bring new businesses to Burlington that will grow the tax base and create new jobs. The department will also work diligently to help our existing industries expand and ensure a business climate that is ripe for businesses to stay and grow in Burlington. The Department will collaborate with the Burlington Downtown Corporation, Burlington-Alamance Airport Authority, and the Alamance Chamber on existing economic development efforts to create synergy. The Department is located in the Burlington Municipal Building at 425 South Lexington Avenue in downtown Burlington.