Our local newspaper, The News-Topic (www.newstopic.net) recently ran an article featuring our newly appointed Executive Director, Deborah Murray. Her insight into Caldwell County’s future is encouraging and enlightening.

 Murray Optimistic About County’s Future Possibilities

 by Paul Teague (pteague@newstopic.net)

As Deborah Murray sees it, brighter days are on the horizon for Caldwell County.

Murray, a former publisher of the News-Topic who has guided Caldwell 20/20 for the past two years, formally took over the job as Caldwell County Economic Development Commission director on Nov. 1.

Murray is quick to note that 20/20 – which has focused on improving Caldwell County’s standing in order to facilitate new investment – is not going away.

“I’m really excited about this,” Murray said. “While 20/20 has been very careful to be focused on the holistic economic development aspect, this allows us to be more in the forefront.” 

Appointed to the Caldwell County EDC Board of Directors earlier this year, Murray succeeds Harry Whalen, who suddenly resigned after nearly two years on the job. Despite an unemployment rate that has remained above 10 percent since December 2008 and currently stands at nearly 13 percent, Murray believes the county – and the thousands of hungry workers eager to find a steady job – is poised for a rebound. 

“Caldwell County has an incredible story to tell, and we need to refine that story,” Murray said. “If someone comes to us as a manufacturing prospect or a data center project, we need to have a team ready to tell Caldwell County’s story.” 

Murray envisions formulating rapid-response teams that include municipal officials, government agencies – both locally and from the state – and other interests to be ready to respond when potential prospects are identified. 

“One of the best things that Caldwell County does is be a community and come together and support itself,” Murray said. “We’ve got to put these teams together so we don’t have to re-invent the wheel each time a prospect comes across the threshold.” 

Murray also dismisses the naysayers who contend that Caldwell County’s best days have passed, having fallen victim to a global economy that led to the loss of thousands of manufacturing jobs. 

“For those folks who think that Caldwell County is dead in the water, they are so wrong,” Murray said. 

In addition to bringing parties together for economic development purposes, Murray said the EDC itself needs to improve its communication efforts. At the same time, Murray is looking for the EDC to tweak its business recruitment playbook. 

“We’ll be sitting down with the EDC Board to better refine the plan,” Murray said. 

Along the way, Murray is hopeful that the EDC will be able to announce some successes by the end of the year. “I am more convinced that our best days are ahead of us,” Murray said. “There’s just a whole bright future out there.” 

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