Scott Millar, president of the Catawba County Economic Development Corporation (EDC), has been awarded the inaugural Lifetime Service Award from the North Carolina Economic Development Association (NCEDA). The Lifetime Service Award recognizes members making significant and valued contributions above and beyond expectations during their membership to NCEDA. The recipients were announced at the association’s Fall Conference in Asheville earlier this month.
NCEDA is composed of more than 850 professional economic developers at the state, regional and local levels; as well as educators, engineers, transportation experts, utility industry leaders, attorneys, and other professionals.
Millar served on the NCEDA Board of Directors from 2000-2007, holding the office of secretary/treasurer in 2003-2004, vice president in 2004-2005, and president in 2005-2006. He was named NCEDA’s Economic Developer of the Year in 2010.
“This award is a way for NCEDA to honor members who have gone above and beyond furthering our profession and advancing our association with selflessness and dedication throughout the state,” Chris Platé, president of NCEDA, said.
Millar joined the Catawba County EDC as vice president of economic development in 1993 and was named president in 1997. He has led Catawba County to many significant announcements including data centers for Apple ($4 billion investment to date) and Bed, Bath, and Beyond as a result of developing the “NC Data Center Corridor.”
Millar notably developed Trivium Corporate Center, a 378-acre Class A business park, in partnership with the City of Hickory and Catawba County, resulting in announcements totaling $369 million and 772 jobs since 2018.
His coordination of public/private efforts to create spec buildings in Catawba County has resulted in investment of $231 million and the creation of 1,341 jobs to date. Total investment and jobs during his 25-year tenure as president are nearly $8 billion investment and more than 15,000 jobs.
