A top figure in York, Lancaster and Chester county business recruitment is leaving
One of the top officials behind the influx of new business headed to York, Lancaster and Chester counties announced last week that he’ll leave.
I-77 Alliance president and CEO Steven Pearce will leave for a similar role in the St. Loius area. Lancaster County Council member and I-77 Alliance chairwoman Charlene McGriff said at the group’s annual economic development summit Wednesday she accepted Pearce’s resignation two weeks ago.
“We appreciate the impact on the I-77 Alliance, and we are proud of your accomplishments during your time with the organization,” McGriff said.
Updates will provided in the coming months for Pearce’s replacement.
“We are already discussing next steps and the future of the I-77 Alliance,” McGriff said. “We feel that the important work of marketing and lead generation for this region is paramount, and must continue by a smooth transition to the organization’s future leader.”
The alliance is a nonprofit group that serves York, Lancaster, Chester, Fairfield and Richland counties. The group markets sites throughout that area to businesses in search of a new or expanded base. The alliance dates back to 2013. Pearce took over last year after similar business recruitment work for the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance.
Pearce called Wednesday a bittersweet day. Pearce enjoyed working with area business and economic development leaders, but is excited about a new opportunity.
“It provided me with a real opportunity to progress in my career, to take on new challenges,” Pearce said. “It was kind of an opportunity that was too good to be true.”
Pearce said the alliance remains poised to attract key businesses, as the search begins for a new leader.
“I have all the confidence in the world that this executive committee and this board is going to position this region for ongoing success,” Pearce said.
Part of that confidence comes from a region with access to major interstate, a globally significant airport in Charlotte and a community committed to business recruitment.
“The potential for this organization to continue to deliver in high quality leads and a marketing program that creates awareness of this region as a great place to do business is unparalleled,” Pearce said. “The I-77 Alliance is only going to continue to flourish.”
Individual counties have their own economic development offices that work with the alliance and businesses in search of sites. The alliance role is to coordinate and multiply efforts for the region at large. Since the alliance began there have been more than 130 business announcements in the area with a total investment of more than $5.5 billion.
Some of the recent additions include a $30 million Samuel Packaging Systems Group expansion in York County, the more than $420 million and nearly 500-job E&J Gallo win company location to Chester County and both the $22 million Chief Buildings addition and the 240-job NutraMax Laboratories expansion in Lancaster County.
