Robust recruiters.

• Author: Roddey, Jennings Cool
• Position: NC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The North Carolina Economic Development Association honors top achievers at its annual convention, including last month's gathering in Wilmington. The award winners worked on the state's most high-profile successes in attracting corporate entrants.

DAVID SPRATLEY

former senior assistant secretary of finance, North Carolina Commerce Department

AWARD OF EXECUTIVE ACHIEVEMENT

David Spratley has received little notice for his key role in attracting companies to North Carolina for nearly two decades. The veteran state employee "loathes the spotlight," says Dan Gerlach, a Raleigh consultant who led the Golden LEAF Foundation for a decade.

But the N.C. Economic Development Association is bringing Spratley out of the shadows, honoring him with its Award for Executive Achievement. The award came as Spratley left his state job to join the Nexsen Pruet law firm in mid-June.

"There is not one other individual active in his career that has had his hands on the success of so many economic development projects in North Carolina," says Melissa Smith, vice president of business recruitment and development for the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina.

The Ohio native came south to attend UNC Wilmington. Fie joined the N.C. Commerce Department in 1996 and spent much of his career there, except for a two-and-a-half year stint at accounting giant KPMG from 2001-04. In 2014, he joined the new, public-private EDPNC as vice president for business recruitment. Five years later, he returned to Commerce as senior assistant secretary of finance.

He was a major designer of state incentives to persuade companies to select North Carolina, particularly the Job Development Incentive Grant program. JDIG, as it's called, offers reimbursements of personal income tax withholding for companies that meet commitments for new jobs and investment.

Lawmakers increased the program's scope in recent years to help North Carolina win some major projects after decades of losing some high-profile deals to other states.

"There's no debate: Projects would have been lost, consultant relationships marred, and our incentives arsenal weakened without [Spratley's] essential influence as the rational arbiter between Commerce and EDPNC," says Ryan Nance, director of economic development at North Carolina's Electric Cooperatives. "While his name and face never appear in the announcement credits or ribbon-cuttings, his fingerprints are pervasive in service to our state's counties and communities."

What is the most important step North Carolina can make to become more attractive for economic development?

Long-term response: Education. Adequately fund and fully support education at all levels.

Short-term response: North Carolina, like most of our competitor states, has very little...