For Immediate Release | April 27, 2022
WALHALLA, SC – Oconee County is excited to announce the hiring of Mr. Jamie Gilbert as new Director of Economic Development at the Oconee Economic Alliance.
Prior to being selected to lead Oconee County’s economic development efforts, Gilbert was hired in 2016 to build and manage the newly created Lancaster County Department of Economic Development (LCDED). Over his career, Gilbert has facilitated the recruitment and expansion of hundreds of global businesses in a variety of sectors including advanced manufacturing, aerospace, customer and financial services, food processing, headquarters operations, information technology, life sciences and metal fabrication. In 2019, Gilbert was named one of the Top 50 Economic Developers in North America by Consultant Connect.
Gilbert has a lifelong passion for economic development as his Father was a city planner, economic developer and private developer. Growing up around economic development he saw first-hand the positive impact it made on communities and chose to make it his career path. He holds a Master’s Degree in City and Regional Planning from Clemson University and a Bachelor’s Degree in political science from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). He is a South Carolina Certified Economic Developer (SCCED) and a designated Economic Development Master Practitioner by the Advanced Economic Development Leadership Program.
Regarding his appointment as Director of Economic Development, Gilbert said, “I couldn’t be more honored and ecstatic to lead Oconee County’s economic development team! Getting back to the Upstate was a professional and personal goal of mine and when the Economic Development Director position became available, I knew this was the opportunity I had been waiting on. It’s not often you find a county that checks off so many key economic development boxes, while at the same time offering an incredible quality of life, but Oconee does just that. I can’t wait to make the move and become part of this great community.”
QUOTES
“Oconee County is in its prime for economic development growth, and Jamie’s vast experience and expertise in community economic vitality will be an asset to Oconee County, and the Oconee Economic Alliance.”
Amanda Brock, Oconee County Administrator
“We are so fortunate to have Jamie Gilbert join the OEA as our Director of Economic Development. Jamie is a 2nd generation Economic Developer and has a proven track record of success. Given Jamie holds a Master’s degree from Clemson, he has a love for our area of the State. I feel Jamie is the ideal candidate to build upon the solid foundation at OEA.”
Kyle Thomas, Oconee Economic Alliance Chairman of the Board
“We are very pleased to have Jamie join Oconee County in the role of Economic Development Director. He is extremely knowledgeable of the many aspects encompassing the economic development field and his broad base of education and experience here in South Carolina will serve him well.”
Paul Cain, Esq., Vice Chairman, Oconee County Council – District III
“We look forward to Jamie Gilbert joining the OEA as its Director of Economic Development. With his excellent credentials and experience, we know he will continue the tradition of successfully leading the economic development effort of Oconee County.”
Dave Eldridge, Chairman, TriCounty Entrepreneurial Development Corporation
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ABOUT THE OCONEE ECONOMIC ALLIANCE
The Oconee Economic Alliance (OEA) is a public-private nonprofit dedicated to bringing jobs and capital investment to Oconee County. Serving as the Economic Development arm of Oconee County, the OEA focuses on increasing per capita income, diversifying the local tax base and generating awareness of Oconee County as a business location. Since its founding in 2013, OEA efforts have resulted in the creation of more than 1,800 new jobs and $620 million in capital investment in Oconee County, SC.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Morgan Holcomb
Marketing Manager
Oconee Economic Alliance
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