6 days ago
Governor Stein announces new additions to GROW NC team
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCT) — Governor Josh Stein announced that two individuals from western North Carolina will join the GROW NC team.
Sharon Decker will serve as Senior Advisor for Long-Term Recovery, and Forrest Gilliam will serve as Legislative Director for GROW NC – both are based out of and live in western North Carolina.
Decker, alongside her nonprofit Tapestry Collaborative, will contract with GROW NC to help lead a collaborative effort that produces a framework and plan for long-term economic recovery as the region rebuilds. She will also serve as an advisor to the Governor, GROW NC, and the Department of Commerce on long-term economic recovery, and will liaise with public, private, and social sector institutions to identify opportunities for cross-sector partnerships that advance recovery efforts.
'The devastation has been horrific, but the fortitude and perseverance of western North Carolinians is extraordinary,' Sharon Decker said. 'We will come back, and better than before. A strong plan, with actionable steps built on improved health care, more available and affordable housing, a strong education network across the region, planned economic development, strengthened infrastructure, and collaborative community engagement is essential for ensuring our recovery leads us on a sure path for the future.'
Gilliam has nearly two decades of experience across all levels of government, including work on Capitol Hill for Congressman Heath Shuler, as a legislative and committee assistant at the North Carolina General Assembly for Representative Ray Rapp, as a member of Governor Bev Perdue's legislative affairs team, and as director of the Governor's Western Regional Office. Since 2020, he has contracted with the Town of Marshal as a town administrator, where he focused on efforts to find water and sewer infrastructure, with a recent focus on Hurricane Helene response and recovery.
As a part of the Governor's Recovery Office for Western North Carolina (GROW NC), they will both play a key role in Hurricane Helene recovery efforts.
'I am committed to bringing leaders to the GROW NC team who will prioritize urgency, focus, transparency, and accountability to help rebuild western North Carolina,' Governor Josh Stein said. 'I welcome to the team Sharon Decker, a former Secretary of Commerce, to serve as a Senior Advisor, and Forrest Gilliam, a former Madison County manager and legislative liaison, as Legislative Director. I am grateful for their continued service to the people of western North Carolina.'
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