Pittsboro, N.C. — November 4th, 2025 — The Chatham Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) announces that Michael Smith, President of the Chatham EDC, has been named “One of the best recruiters the South has currently” in the Southern Economic Development Hall of Fame Volume 2 by Southern Business & Development (SB&D).
Smith’s Hall of Fame recognition reflects his leadership on transformative projects such as Wolfspeed and VinFast, which have established Chatham County, North Carolina, as one of the most dynamic economic development destinations in the South.
With more than 20 years of experience in economic development, Smith has served in both local and state leadership roles, including with the North Carolina Department of Commerce in Raleigh. His work has consistently driven transformative investment and job creation across the region.
In 2022, Smith led the recruitment of the VinFast Electric Vehicle project in Moncure, marking North Carolina’s largest economic development announcement at the time. Just six months later, the Chatham EDC broke the state record again with Wolfspeed’s $5 billion silicon carbide materials facility announcement in Siler City.
At his previous leadership position in Sanford-Lee County, his team achieved significant success in business recruitment and product development, including four of the top 25 announcements in North Carolina in FY 2019–2020.
Smith served as President of the North Carolina Economic Development Association (NCEDA) and remains an influential voice in advancing economic growth statewide.
Born in Durham, Smith lived in Atlanta and Dallas before returning home to North Carolina. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master of Arts Degree in Geography with a concentration in Urban and Regional Planning from East Carolina University.
You can read Southern Business & Development’s Hall of Fame Volume 2 and view Smith’s full feature here:
