Recent News
RALEIGH — Pipeline Plastics Holdings, LLC, a leading manufacturer of high-performance industrial pipeline systems, will create 44 new jobs in Columbus County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $4.6 million in a new production facility in Fair Bluff. “North Carolina’s appeal as a center for manufacturing continues to attract companies from many different…
Read More
by Andrew Dunn, Carolina Journal News Service RALEIGH — A new bill supported by influential N.C. senators would protect the confidentiality of donors to nonprofit organizations and charities. Senate Bill 636 would prevent the disclosure of the names of people giving money or property to nonprofit corporations, making their identities confidential. The bill would also prohibit legislators…
Read More
WILMINGTON, N.C., — Privacy concerns related to sharing COVID-19 vaccination status have driven Governor DeSantis of Florida and Governor Abbot of Texas to issue executive orders blocking mandated vaccine passports. CastleBranch — an infectious disease screening company — has already taken significant steps to protect private data from abuse and misuse by government and big tech corporations Located in North Carolina, CastleBranch has developed…
Read More
BOLIVIA, N.C., April 8, 2021 ― Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center was recently awarded the five-star North Carolina Maternity Center Breastfeeding-Friendly Designation by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The designation is based on the World Health Organization’s Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, which support initiation, exclusivity and continuation of breastfeeding. “We are thrilled…
Read More
Wilmington, NC – Cape Fear Community College will increase in-person instruction for 2021 fall session classes. The majority of fall classes will be offered in a traditional face-to-face format with minimal online components. Classes offered in the face-to-face format will include those that require hands-on instruction such as skilled trades and health sciences, as well as…
Read More
SOUTHPORT – The Dosher Memorial Hospital Foundation recently welcomed Toni McAndrews as the new Foundation Development Specialist. Ms. McAndrews has an extensive background in fund raising, event planning, and marketing and public relations with several non-profit agencies in both NC and FL. In her new role, Ms. McAndrews will work closely with Lynda Stanley, President…
Read More
Bank takes advantage of Duke Energy’s Green Source Advantage program 58-megawatt solar power plant planned for Catawba County CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Wells Fargo has become the latest large energy user to execute a renewable power agreement under Duke Energy’s Green Source Advantage (GSA) program – building on the solar expansion in North Carolina. Wells Fargo…
Read More
by Andrew Dun, Carolina Journal News Service RALEIGH — The General Assembly will consider a measure to enshrine North Carolina’s right-to-work policies in the state constitution. Sens. Carl Ford, R-Rowan, and Jim Burgin, R-Harnett, have introduced a bill — Senate Bill 624 — that would guarantee N.C. workers would not be forced to join a labor union…
Read More
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., Novant Health has named Erik Helms as the new senior vice president and chief payor performance officer. In addition to leading the business development and sales team, he will oversee Novant Health’s payor relationships and lead the system’s pricing strategy. Helms will report to John Gizdic, executive vice president and chief business development officer,…
Read More
White House announces federal government will not store citizens’ vaccine data or status WILMINGTON, N.C., With the distribution of COVID-19 vaccinations well underway, many organizations in the United States are now turning their attention to vaccine passports – a way for individuals to prove they’ve received the COVID-19 vaccine. This includes the White House, which in March, suggested…
Read More
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Truist received the highest possible overall rating of “Outstanding” from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for its most recent Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) examination period. “Truist’s community development lending provides capital that impacts community and socioeconomic needs,” said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Kelly S. King. “Since our previous evaluation, we’ve identified and responded to community…
Read More
Raleigh, N.C. – Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 96 of North Carolina’s counties in February, increased in three, and remained unchanged in one. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 10.9 percent while Orange County had the lowest at 4.0 percent. All fifteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases. Among the…
Read MoreBusiness Advice & Expertise
The startup ecosystem is a living and growing organism that most cities are trying to add to their modern economic development strategy for job creation. The startup ecosystem is typically a very positive kumbaya environment. There are lots of smiles around town while people with rose colored glasses are selling more commercial and residential real…
Read More
Yesterday I was a last-minute speaker for a business group, filling in for a planned speaker who was under the weather. I had to put on my thinking cap and come up with an interesting topic with little time to spare. Given that we are now at the one-year anniversary of COVID-19’s initial impacts on…
Read More
When I first entered the public relations profession shortly after college, we typically heard about two types of media: earned media and paid media. Thanks to technology-driven changes, social media and owned media have become increasingly prevalent communication tools in recent years. Paid media refers to tools such as traditional advertising and direct mail. While…
Read MoreOpinion & Commentary
by John Hood RALEIGH — Thanks to the fiscally responsible policies of the North Carolina General Assembly, state government has some $5 billion in unspent funds and unanticipated revenues in its General Fund. And thanks to the fiscally irresponsible policies of Congress and the Biden administration, North Carolina will receive another $5.2 billion in “COVID-19…
Read More
by John Hood Every argument has three parts: definitions, premises, and logical reasoning. When conservatives and progressives disagree about a specific issue, each side often leaps to the conclusion that the other side is being illogical (or dishonest, or stupid). In my experience, however, most disagreements don’t stem from faulty reasoning. We usually disagree because…
Read More
by John Hood RALEIGH — It may sound preposterous at the moment, with North Carolina’s unemployment rate still significantly above its pre-COVID rate, but I think our leaders should be talking about the state’s coming labor shortage. No, I don’t necessarily mean that businesses will have a hard time finding young, low-skilled workers to do…
Read More