Jim Fain

Secretary Fain

Jim Fain was appointed Secretary of Commerce by Gov. Mike Easley on March 27th, 2001. From July 1999 until his appointment, Fain served as the Department’s Assistant Secretary for Economic Development.

As Secretary, Jim and his team at Commerce keep North Carolina competitive for high-value, technologically competitive industries and companies by actively recruiting and encouraging the expansion in North Carolina.

He supervises the Departments various divisions including: the Division of Community Assistance; Workforce Development; Business and Industry Development; International Trade; Policy and Research; Marketing; Employment and Training; the Travel and Tourism and N.C. Film Office; and the N.C. Board of Science and Technology. He works with many partners including the State Ports Authority and N.C. Partnerships for Economic Development.

Jim has welcomed countless international delegations, dedicated dozens of international facilities and participated in meetings across our state to promote international trade opportunities.

Prior to joining Commerce, Fain served as the Triangle Market President for First Union National Bank. He spent 25 years with First Union.

Fain graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 1971 and a Master’s in Business Administration in 1975, both from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He and his wife, Peggy, live in Raleigh and have two children, Catherine and John.