By Josh Bergeron

josh.bergeron@salisburypost.com

Rowan County on Thursday announced the hiring of Cari Price as its new grant writer.

Price is currently director of the Catawba Fund at Catawba College. She is also a grant writer for the college.

Price assisted Catawba in bringing in more than $5 million to underwrite substantial renovation projects and technology upgrades, according to a news release about the hiring.

Before joining Catawba College, Price worked at Diversified Graphics Inc. and F&M Bank.

She will start as a grant writer for Rowan County on Aug. 1, County Manager Aaron Church said.

“Cari’s contribution to Catawba College provides the experience we need to find and secure new funding to promote economic development and services to the citizens of Rowan County,” Church said in a news release.

In the news release, Price was praised by former and current Catawba College employees.

Margaret Faust, former assistant vice president for the development office, said Price “got the job done well, on time, all while exceeding expectations.”

Tonia Black-Gold, communications officer for Catawba, said Price has developed a good rapport with many of the organizations that made grants to the college in the recent past.

Price, a native of Rowan County, lives in Salisbury.  She and her husband, Chris, have two sons. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Catawba College.

“It’s bittersweet for me to leave employment at my alma mater, but at the same time I am excited about the opportunity to work as the county grant writer and identify and secure grants that can positively affect over 140,000 citizens in my home county,” she said in a news release.

As the county’s grant writer, Price will work directly for Church. In addition to grant writing, she will be available to assist other local organizations such as Rowan-Salisbury Schools, RowanWORKS Economic Development and Rockwell Rural Fire Department.

Price annual salary will be about $57,000.

She will be the second-ever grant writer hired by Rowan County. The first, Kellie Cartwright, recently accepted a job as director of community impact for the United Way of the Central Carolinas.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.