Janis Gallagher, County Manager, Pitt County

Invest: spoke with Janis Gallagher, county manager of Pitt County, to explore how the county is leveraging collaboration, infrastructure investment, and placemaking to strengthen long-term resilience and competitiveness. “We are strategically and innovatively capitalizing upon our unique resources to create a place where businesses and individuals stop and take a second look and recognize that we are a hidden gem in eastern North Carolina,” Gallagher said.

How would you describe the past year for Pitt County, and what does it tell you about the county’s overall trajectory?

This last year has truly been marked by growth, community engagement, and a real optimism about Pitt County’s future prosperity. You can almost feel the energy in a way I have not experienced in my nearly 30 years here.

What has been most significant is the strengthening of partnerships between the county, our 10 municipalities, Pitt Community College, East Carolina University, and our public-private economic development organizations. Those relationships have created a level of synergy that is aligning our priorities, attracting new investment, and giving our residents and business community confidence that Pitt County is moving in a positive direction.

What are the most pressing challenges you are navigating as you work to sustain that momentum?

Like many communities, we are working hard to maintain and grow a ready workforce. That has meant being intentional about talent recruitment and retention in partnership with organizations such as the NC East Alliance, our community college, and local employers. We want to make sure that as new opportunities arise, Pitt County residents are prepared to step into them.

We are also focused on placemaking. We know that people choose communities not just for jobs but for the overall experience of living there. Our challenge is to invest strategically in infrastructure and amenities that keep our community engaged while preserving the southern charm and rural heritage that define Pitt County. We want businesses, students, retirees, and families to have what they need at their fingertips, and to genuinely love calling Pitt County home.

What investments are you most focused on to support long-term growth?

Broadband has been one of our most important infrastructure initiatives. By December 2026, all of Pitt County will have access to fiber and high-speed, commercial-grade internet. We achieved that through a significant multi-million-dollar investment in partnership with the State of North Carolina and private providers. Reliable broadband is fundamental for business growth, remote work, education, and quality of life.

We are also focused on the development of a megasite. Pitt County has been identified by the state as having more than 1,000 acres primed for development as a megasite. We have secured grant funding to complete due diligence and extend utilities and infrastructure to that site. That work positions us to compete for major projects and catalyze additional investment across the county.

How are you ensuring that economic gains and new opportunities reach historically underserved areas across the county?

Pitt County prides itself on community engagement, and we are aware that parts of our county feel more urban while others are deeply rural. We have been proactive in reaching out to lower-wealth communities and areas that historically have not been served as robustly as others.

As we launched our first-ever strategic plan for Pitt County Government, we took an “on the road” approach, going into every corner of the county to listen. We did the same when we pursued the megasite designation — meeting in person, online, with paper and digital surveys, and using interpreters to cross language and jurisdictional barriers. The goal was to hear directly from residents about their priorities and concerns, and then reflect that feedback in our recommendations. That inclusive process helps ensure our growth strategy is truly countywide.

What steps are you taking to strengthen Pitt County as a place to live, work, and play?

Based on community feedback, we have placed a strong emphasis on health and recreation. Coming out of the pandemic, there was a clear interest in more outdoor opportunities, and it became evident that this is one of the best uses of our assets.

This year, we cut the ribbon on two twin community centers — one north of the Tar River and one south — that provide both indoor and outdoor recreation, including gymnasium space and programming for all ages. We also created our first-ever Cultural Arts and Recreation Department for Pitt County Government, solely focused on inclusive, broad-reaching recreational and cultural activities across the county.

It has been rewarding to watch our community grow closer as people come together in these spaces, learn about different traditions, and build deeper relationships. For both business and community development, that sense of belonging and connection is essential. It strengthens collaboration and helps make Pitt County a place where people want to put down roots.

How do you see the role of county government evolving in efforts to build resilient communities?

County government has to be the leader in that work. We are responsible for investing tax dollars wisely to ensure we have the strongest possible infrastructure — water, utilities, broadband, and other baseline systems that support residents and employers.

Equally important is education. We need a K-12 system and a community college that serve all types of learners pursuing all types of career paths. In Pitt County, we have made historic, record-level investments in K-12 and community college education. We call our approach “grow local” because we align our partnerships to build a talented local workforce and then retain that talent here. That is the foundation of long-term resilience.

We are doing all of this while preserving our agricultural heritage. Pitt County is historically a rural, agricultural county, and agriculture continues to have a significant economic impact. Resilience for us means not trying to become something we are not, but rather honoring those traditions while diversifying and modernizing our economy. We are strategically and innovatively capitalizing upon our unique resources to create a place where businesses and individuals stop and take a second look and recognize that we are a hidden gem in eastern North Carolina.

Is there a project or initiative you are particularly excited about?

One initiative I am especially excited about is our new county administration building and the ripple effects it will have, particularly in our waterfront area. Today, our administration functions are split between an old hospital building in the medical district and various county offices along First Street on the Tar River.

Our Board of Commissioners has invested in a new administration building in our government complex north of the river. It will consolidate our services into a more modern, centrally located, one-stop shop that improves the quality of facilities for our workforce and makes it easier for residents to access county services.

What makes this truly transformational is what it unlocks. Moving our operations will free up space in the medical district that aligns with continued growth in the health sector. It will also open up prime waterfront properties currently used for county offices, such as the tax office, economic development office, and Register of Deeds, for future public-private partnerships. Over time, that will allow us to reimagine our small urban core as an incredible waterfront community with new amenities, while maintaining the character that makes Pitt County special. That is the kind of thoughtful, long-range planning that can reshape a community over the next five years and beyond.