The City of Fayetteville has appointed Chris Cauley to the position of director over the city’s Economic and Community Development (ECD) Department effective May 10.

Cauley, who had been working with the city since Nov. 2019, was serving as the department’s acting director. Before that Cauley served as the department’s assistant director.
As director, Cauley is charged with fulfilling the ECD Department’s mission, which includes providing opportunities for people who seek safe, affordable housing. 
The Department supports entrepreneurship through loans, grants and programs that create job opportunities for low to moderate-income residents. Cauley and ECD team members administer federal grants and funding at the local level.
“We look to Chris to cultivate relationships that help us address pressing issues such as affordable housing and unemployment,” said City Manager Doug Hewett. “Chris came to this community seeking opportunities to help people. He even studied blighted sections of town, identifying places in need of transformations, suggesting resources that could change the landscape. Chris will leverage his partnerships at local, state and federal levels to make a difference.”
In a prepared statement released May 14, Cauley stated his desire to serve local residents.
“I am honored to be selected for this position and my wife and I are proud to call Fayetteville home,” Cauley said. “The time I’ve spent in the Economic and Community Development Department, coupled with previous time in local government, will allow me to serve our residents well.”
Cauley earned his bachelor’s degree at Campbell University, majoring in history and government. He earned a Master of Public Administration degree at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Cauley has previously worked for the City of Charlotte and Pasco County, Florida.