courthouse-clocktowerHere in New Hanover County, the community, elected officials and county staff cooperate to balance a high quality of life with a progressive business and economic climate.

At less than 200 square miles, New Hanover County is the second smallest – geographically – of the 100 North Carolina counties; however, it is home to more than 232,000 people.

New Hanover County is not just a great place in which to live or visit. New Hanover County is also a great place to do business. Tourism, film production, the service and retail sectors are the engines that power our economy.

Our Mission: New Hanover County is committed to progressive public policy, superior service, courteous contact, judicious exercise of authority, and sound fiscal management to meet the needs and concerns of our citizens today and tomorrow.

The government of New Hanover County is committed to ensuring that you are safe, healthy and secure; that is our promise to you.

New Hanover County Manager Chris Coudriet serves as chief administrator of county government and maintains responsibility for administering all departments under the general control of the five-member Board of Commissioners.

The county manager’s work includes the development of the county’s annual budget. The budget is the policy document, financial plan, and operations guide and communications device of county government. It reflects the county’s response to the needs of the community and residents’ requests for services. New Hanover County’s government operates on a $392 million multi-fund budget for the fiscal year that began July 1, 2018 and ends June 30, 2019, serving more than 227,000 residents.

In addition, the manager and his executive leadership team are responsible for aligning the operations of the county to the adopted strategic plan and advancing the county’s mission and vision through five key focus areas: superior education and workforce, superior public health and safety, intelligent growth and economic development, strong financial performance, and effective county management.

Mr. Coudriet has served as the county manager since July 2012. Prior to his appointment, he served as assistant county manager for New Hanover County for four years and as county manager in Franklin and Washington counties, N.C.

Mr. Coudriet has nearly twenty-five years of public administration experience, with more than a decade as a county manager in North Carolina. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from East Carolina University and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

He is a native of eastern North Carolina. Chris and his wife, Leigh, and two children Montgomery and Silas, reside in Wilmington.

New Hanover County has received the final economic development target analysis report from Jay Garner titled Pathways to Prosperity: New Hanover County’s Plan for Jobs and Investment and it’s critical companion piece, the Competitive Realties Report.

Manager's Message

School Bonds

Posted December 1, 2014 at 12:41 pm

bts7In early November nearly 64 percent of those that voted in the New Hanover County general election checked yes to the question for $160 million in school bonds for the New Hanover County public school system. With a majority voting in favor, the long term task of designing facilities, issuing bonds at different intervals, and building the improvements has begun. You can see that hard work already in motion with the recent county commission approval to purchase nearly 18 acres in Porters Neck for a new elementary school.

As a concerned citizen with an interest in the governance of this county, I want you to know that great care and coordination will occur between the school system administration and the county government administration. In partnership with the school system, we are committed to delivering the facilities our children need, we are committed to delivering those facilities in a timely manner, and we are committed to delivering those facilities within the preliminary budgets set for the work.  It’s not lost on me that with our community’s affirmative vote you’ve voluntarily entrusted one of your most precision resources (your money) to the county government, and as such, I am committed to ensuring these school projects, through partnership and collaboration with the school system, deliver value for your taxpayer dollars.

Thanksgiving

Posted November 24, 2014 at 8:07 am

This week begins what I consider the most important holiday of the year: Thanksgiving. It’s the time so many of us reflect on where we’ve been, what we’ve faced, what … Read More »

Economic Development

Posted November 13, 2014 at 3:56 pm

New Hanover County leaders have made economic development a priority. I can point to partnerships in the past 18 months that have led to more than 500 new private-sector jobs … Read More »

Second citizen satisfaction survey

Posted October 24, 2014 at 11:46 am

If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you’ll remember that I recently wrote about the public promise of New Hanover County. If you’re a first time reader, I want … Read More »

New Hanover County Makes You Safe, Healthy, and Well

Posted October 14, 2014 at 11:49 am

The proverbial question: What do I get for my tax dollars? It’s a fair question, and it’s one that any county government should be in position to answer without fail or … Read More »