For several weeks, the Washington Daily News has written about
fingerprint technology firm Privaris, further developing a CJ Exclusive
by Paul Chesser . Privaris received $307,575 from the state’s Tobacco
Trust Fund and has failed to create the 10 to 15 jobs that were
promised. This week, WDN reported that a second member of the Martin
County Economic Development Corp (EDC) Board of Directors –
Robersonville Town Manager John Pritchard — would resign from the
board. County Commissioner Tommy Bowen also is leaving. Both men have
reportedly said their departures are not related to the Privaris grant,
which EDC helped obtain. According to the WDN story, “Pritchard said
the Privaris issue “has probably scared a lot of people.” But, he
continued, “the EDC didn’t do anything wrong, and that had no factor in
my resignation.”