SALISBURY — Rowan County this week started advertising to fill a grant writer position after the current employee accepted another job.

Kellie Cartwright, hired as the county’s first grant writer in 2015, has accepted a job in Charlotte as director of community impact for the United Way of Central Carolinas.

Since Cartwright started as a grant writer, Rowan County has been awarded more than $2.5 million in grants, which does not include a $2.9 million water and sewer loan and some other grants.

On Wednesday, the county began advertising Cartwright’s position, which also involves helping other entities apply for funding.

In addition to county government, Cartwright has submitted grants for Rowan-Salisbury Schools, Horizons Unlimited, Rowan County Peace Officers Association, RowanWORKS Economic Development and Rockwell Rural Fire Department. She also has helped identify funding sources for other agencies, Cartwright said.

Rowan County has been a “great place to work, and that the people in this community have been great to work with,” she said.

The advertised salary range for the grant writer position is $51,000 to $81,000 a year. The position reports directly to County Manager Aaron Church.

Church said he hopes to fill the position as soon as possible. He said Cartwright has “done a tremendous job.”

The county commissioners decided to add a grant writer position in the 2015-16 budget. Church said it was “absolutely” worth adding.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246