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McHargue to head SPIR

By Lisa Majors-Duff
Richard McHargue Herald photo by Lisa Majors-Duff

Richard McHargue has taken over as executive director of Sylva Partners in Renewal. On the job since Sept. 1, McHargue says he plans to spend a few weeks getting to know the people in downtown Sylva.

Richard McHargue, a graduate student at Appalachian State University, has been named Sylva Partners in Renewal's executive director.

SPIR President Jay Spiro made the announcement last week.

"We are extremely happy to have found someone with Richard's educational and professional background to pursue SPIR's program of work at this pivotal time in Sylva's history," Spiro said.

McHargue, a native of Statesville, is completing his masters of public administration degree with a concentration in town, city and county management at ASU. A course of independent studies will not require him to be on the Boone campus full time. He also earned his undergraduate degree at ASU, graduating with honors.

"I feel (Sylva) has a tremendous amount of potential," McHargue said. "It has a lot of opportunity to develop into a wonderful community, which to me means more than a physical location."

McHargue also said he'd like to see SPIR continue to enhance its relationships with local officials, downtown merchants and property owners, and Sylva's citizens.

The 25-year-old began work Sept. 1, and says he plans to spend the next couple of weeks "on the streets, getting to know the people, attending events and going to meetings."

"SPIR is an organization that's ready to move ahead and serve everyone in the community," McHargue said. "I feel I have an open, inclusive attitude, and I want SPIR to represent that."

"SPIR has achieved a great deal of success in the past several years in planning and organizing downtown improvements, encouraging the restoration of numerous downtown buildings, the recruitment of Peebles department store as a retail anchor, and organizing and staffing the festivals and promotional events that are bringing more and more people to live, eat and shop in downtown Sylva," Spiro said. "We are excited that Richard will help move SPIR to the next level of achievement - organizing and implementing Phase II of the streetscape project, retail recruitment and assistance, additional promotional activity, bringing more events to the downtown, and relocating SPIR's offices to the newly renovated Hooper House."

McHargue and his wife, Jackie, who is employed at Western Carolina University's Office of Student Affairs, live in Cullowhee.

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