May 28, 2010 8:40:21 AM

The National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators will move its headquarters from Wilmington, North Carolina, to Kansas City, Missouri, effective June 1.

New Executive Director Patti Phillips announced the move in an e-mail to members Wednesday.

Missouri and the Kansas City Area Development Council granted a $50,000 tax credit to NACWAA to help facilitate the move.

Phillips attributed the move to a variety of factors, including Kansas City's history of supporting intercollegiate athletics and women's sports and its status as home to a number of major corporations that have a history of providing donations, sponsorships and financial support to women's athletics. The metropolitan area is home to other national organizations, including the NAIA, the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the National Center for Drug Free Sport.

Phillips touted the city's central geographic location that will help serve members better and its low cost of living, which will enable the organization to attract top-quality talent.

The staff will add new employees since several current NACWAA staff members opted not to make the move from Wilmington.

NACWAA selected Phillips, former executive director of the Women's Intersport Network of Kansas City, to replace Jennifer Alley, who retired. Phillips assumed her position at NACWAA on April 1.