The Lower Cape Fear Sustainable Communities Consortium (LCFSCC) has named a new project director and project manager who will create a three-county initiative to preserve, promote and develop the assets in the Wilmington area.

Former University of North Carolina Wilmington professor Al Sharp has been named project director for the LCFSCC. Sharp has earned an MA from the University of Kentucky and a BA from Penn State in political science. He most recently served as executive director of the Centralina Council of Governments, which serves 2 million people from 76 communities living in and around Charlotte.

Adrienne McTigue Cox has been named project manager in charge of the new initiative. Cox, a graduate of UNCW, has served in Wilmington’s development services and public services departments for six years as well as working two years as a transportation planner for the city of Jacksonville.

“The LCFSCC is a great opportunity to identify key components and solutions to fulfill the potential of this region.” said Cox in a statement. “…each resident makes an investment living here, we need to optimize their payoff so that they remain and prosper. We all want the region to be the best place to live for years to come.”