Clifford Perry Joins Union Partnership Board

Other Board Members Continue To Serve Another Year

Clifford Perry, Senior Vice President, Community Development for Fifth Third Bank, has been named to the Union County Partnership for Progress Board of Directors.

Perry is the only new Board member added for the 2009-2010 fiscal year. Officers of the Partnership include Bob Butz of Goodrich Corporation chairman, Tom Williams of ATI Allvac (retired) vice chairman, Ken Harris of Wells Fargo/Wachovia treasurer, and Phil Williams of Piedmont Natural Gas secretary.

The Union County Partnership for Progress is a public-private partnership, operating under contract to Union County. Its purpose is to promote economic development in Union County by recruiting new business and industry, helping promote the success of existing businesses, creating new jobs and expanding capital investment in Union County.

“We are very pleased to have a leader with Cliff’s background and expertise join our Board,” said Bob Butz, Partnership Chairman. “He has over 40 years of experience in banking and financial services. His valued leadership will help guide our decisions and directions as we move forward.”

Perry oversees Fifth Third Bank’s local community development efforts, compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), and various diversity efforts within Fifth Third’s Chicago and North Carolina regions, which consists of over 200 banking centers. He also serves as a visible and active liaison with the many community organizations that Fifth Third Bank partners with in Chicago, Northwest Indiana and North Carolina.

Other Partnership directors include: Alan Gold - Goulston Technologies; Al Greene - Union County Manager; Michael Lutes - Carolinas Medical Center – Union; Dr. Jerry McGee - Wingate University; Dr. John McKay - South Piedmont Community College; Tom Moyer - Moyer, Smith & Roller, P.A.; Lisa Owen – BAE Systems; Frank Rogers – NAPA Auto Parts; Tammy Trexler-Whaley, Duke Energy; Ingram Walters - Griffin Management; and John Williams – Davis Williams Wealth Management.

Monroe Corporate Center Gains FTZ Status

The Monroe Corporate Center can now boast that the majority of sites in the 500-acre business park have Foreign Trade Zone status. This is the first location in Union County to achieve FTZ status, which offers tax and duty advantages. The Charlotte Regional Partnership administers FTZ #57, of which the Monroe Corporate Center is now a part. For additional information on FTZs, contact the Partnership’s Laura Foor, lfoor@charlotteusa.com.