The News Herald: Bailey named next Director of Growth Council
Originally published in The News Herald • By Jace Martin
Charity Bailey has been named the new executive director of the Grant County Economic Growth Council starting in 2022. Bailey, who currently works as the senior director for economic business development at the organization, will take over for Tim Eckerle when he retires at the end of the year.
“It’s exciting,” said Bailey about the promotion. “It’s a weighty thing. Tim has been the only executive director and so it’s a big deal. I don’t take it lightly at all. I don’t assume that things are going to be handed to me, I have a lot of learning to do, but I’m excited about it.”
Bailey has lived in Grant County since 2013 and had a previous three-year stint with the GCEGC. She then went to work for Taylor University for three years before returning to the council. She has a bachelor’s degree from Asbury University and master’s degree in psychology with a concentration in industrial/organizational psychology from Purdue.
Board president of GCEGC Anne Duncan said the members voted unanimously to promote Bailey when Eckerle retires. “She understands how the Growth Council works, understands what the Growth Council does,” said Duncan. “And she understands how important the Growth Council is for not only manufacturing in Grant County, but also every other business. She’s got a big role but we’re all confident as a board that she’ll be able to do a great job for us.”
The GCEGC was created in 1985 to “reinvigorate the community’s then-stagnant economy,” according to the website. Now, the non-profit attracts new businesses to the area and partners with other organizations to help them be successful.
One of the ways Bailey hopes to attract potential businesses is via an online database that advertises available locations. “I think we probably need to do more with our available buildings and sites,” said Bailey. “We use a state website that we need to update and make sure that all of that information is current. I’d like to try to fill in as many of the gaps as possible because that’s something that site selectors can look at on their own.”
Eckerle has been the executive director since the council was created, and Bailey was complimentary of his work. “He’s been a tremendous asset to the community. And Grant county, like so many other communities, has had its share of losses. But when you contain it to just economic development, Grant County has had a lot of growth and it’s mostly being because of him,” said Bailey.
Duncan also praised Eckerle, pointing to his longevity as a reason he was able to be successful. “I”m a big fan of Tim’s. He started the organization, he built the organization. At a time when in the ‘80s when we definitely needed representation for larger business and manufacturing, he stepped into that role. And the business community has benefited from his knowledge and expertise,” said Duncan.
According to Dunan, Bailey is the ideal candidate to continue the legacy Eckerle created. “Tim did a good job with this too, and I think Charity has a unique ability to bring all sorts of people together from different organizations and looking for resources that would help Grant County as a whole,” said Duncan.
