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Chapel Hill’s economic development officer resigns, accepts post in Raleigh

After spending five years in Chapel Hill, Economic Development Officer Dwight Bassett is moving on to bigger places — only about 40 minutes up the road.

Bassett has resigned from his current job and accepted a newly created economic development manager position in Raleigh.

Bassett will make about $9,619 more at his new job, which he begins March 26.

But he said he was motivated to make the change by the new challenges and opportunities that Raleigh offers.

Mitchell Silver, the chief planning and development officer in Raleigh, said an Office of Economic Development was created last year and Bassett is the first hire.

“Different people did different functions, but this office now centralizes all those functions,” said Silver.

Bassett said he was also the first to be hired as economic development officer in Chapel Hill in 2007.

“Chapel Hill had never engaged in a conversation about economic development,” Bassett said. “I was the first to fill that position.”

During his five-year tenure in Chapel Hill, Bassett led two major development projects.

He worked on the 3000 Eubanks Road project, a 700,000-square-foot, mixed-use development on 72 acres.

His other major project was focused on encouraging investment in the Ephesus Church-Fordham area.

Bassett, who some know for carving the National Championship tree previously located outside of Starbucks on Franklin Street, said he thinks the Eubanks and Ephesus Church projects will be his legacy in Chapel Hill.

He said Chapel Hill Town Manager Roger Stancil has crafted a short-term project team to handle these developments after Bassett leaves, but his position hasn’t been filled.

In Raleigh, Silver said Bassett will be mainly responsible for helping create economic development for the city as defined in the comprehensive plan.

Bassett will lead the Request For Proposals effort, which assists new businesses looking to move or expand in Raleigh.

Silver said Bassett’s years of extensive experience in Chapel Hill; Statesville; Rock Hill, S.C.; and McCormick County, S.C., made him the most qualified candidate for the job.

Dan Shannon, the publisher of Chapel Hill Magazine and Bassett’s colleague, said he and Bassett have shared an interest in the economic development of Chapel Hill.

“I have gotten to know him as he has moved this town along to a more reasonable and rational approach to economic development,” he said.

Shannon said he is sad to see Bassett leave.

“I have learned to like and respect Dwight because he is smart and honest, and those are two great characteristics in a person.”

While Bassett said he is looking forward to the new and exciting opportunities in Raleigh, it will be difficult to leave his life in Chapel Hill.

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“I have made a lot of friends here and a lot of working relationships,” he said. “I will miss all those people that I consider friends.”

Contact the City Editor at city@dailytarheel.com.

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