Eastern
Central Carolina Hospital seeks expansion
April 22, 2013
(The Fayetteville Observer)
Central Carolina Hospital in Sanford hopes to know next month if a proposed $14 million expansion to its emergency department will be approved by state officials. The hospital wants to complete the update by fall 2014.
Bill could decimate North Carolina's film industry
April 19, 2013
(StarNews, Wilmington)
A bill supported in part by two coastal lawmakers would rescind the state's tax incentives for the film industry and replace it with a credit that industry leaders say few film projects would be able to take advantage of. The result would likely mean a steep decline for the industry in Wilmington.
Laurinburg rebuffs solar-farm project
April 19, 2013
(The Fayetteville Observer)
Laurinburg City Council members voted against a solar-farm development near U.S. 501 that was led by Chapel Hill-based Strata Solar. Robeson County commissioners denied a similar petition earlier this month.
Fayetteville convention center weighs going private
April 18, 2013
(The Fayetteville Observer)
The Crown convention and entertainment complex in Fayetteville is weighing the option of privatizing, though it is still gathering information.
Fort Bragg's guest lodging to be privatized
April 17, 2013
(The Fayetteville Observer)
Fort Bragg's guest lodging is expected to see $60 million in improvements in the next eight years as the post prepares to privatize the accommodations. InterContinental Hotel Group, which operates brands such as Holiday Inn, will take over.
Wilmington could land 2017 PGA tournament
April 15, 2013
(Winston-Salem Journal)
Wilmington's Eagle Point Golf Club might land the PGA's 2017 Wells Fargo Championship tournament because its current host, Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, is hosting the U.S. Open that year.
Developer aims for reinvention in downtown Greenville
April 15, 2013
(The Daily Reflector, Greenville)
A Raleigh developer wants to transform several properties in downtown Greenville into mixed-use retail and office space.
Memo disputes value of film tax incentives
April 12, 2013
(StarNews, Wilmington)
A memo from the General Assembly's Fiscal Research Division to a powerful Senate Republican claims incentives for the film industry have generated fewer than six dozen jobs despite more than $30 million in credits that were awarded in 2011.
Opposition mounts against solar energy in Southeastern North Carolina
April 12, 2013
(The Fayetteville Observer)
Opposition to solar farms has increased in Southeastern North Carolina, with officials in Robeson and Scotland counties recently voting against the projects as more residents protest them. Common complaints are that they are unsightly and their environmental effects are unknown.
Trinity bringing sweet-potato plant to Pembroke
April 12, 2013
(The Fayetteville Observer)
Trinity Frozen Foods will build a sweet-potato processing plant in Pembroke, investing $15 million and creating 149 jobs within three years. It plans to produce 12 million to 15 million pounds of sweet potato fries yearly.
Wilmington home sales rise in March
April 12, 2013
(StarNews, Wilmington)
Wilmington home sales rose 8.4% in March to 486 compared to the year before, the best performance since 2007, when 660 homes sold.
Manufacturer expanding in Columbus County
April 11, 2013
(StarNews, Wilmington)
Cary-based Ply Gem Industries, a maker of vinyl siding and other items for home exteriors, will expand in Columbus County, investing $15.5 million and adding 145 jobs within three years.
Princeville struggles with corruption, state takeover
April 8, 2013
(The News & Observer, Raleigh)
Princeville, an eastern North Carolina town that was the first chartered by African-Americans in the country, was taken over by the state for the second time last year, and has drawn investigations for corruption and mismanagement. The town was decimated by flooding from Hurricane Floyd 14 years ago.
Bill would impose fees for all state's ferries
April 5, 2013
(The News & Observer, Raleigh)
A bill backed by two Republican state senators would introduce fees for the two remaining ferries in North Carolina that don't have them -- Knotts Island's ferry and another that runs between Hatteras and Ocracoke.
Future of Wilmington-filmed TV show uncertain
April 5, 2013
(StarNews, Wilmington)
NBC's post-apocalyptic television show Revolution will wrap filming in Wilmington this week but awaits a decision from network officials if it will return for a second season.
New Bern golf course to undergo renovations
April 5, 2013
(Sun Journal, New Bern)
Emerald Golf Course in New Bern will undergo renovations this summer for eight weeks to replace the course's grass. The course was designed by Rees Jones and opened in 1988.
Housing permits continue to rise in Wilmington
April 5, 2013
(StarNews, Wilmington)
Residential construction permits rose 20% in March compared with the year before in New Hanover County as the market for homes continues to rebound.
Film incentives appear safe in first draft of tax reform
April 3, 2013
(StarNews, Wilmington)
Generous tax incentives for film productions in North Carolina survived the first round of tax-reform negotiation in the state legislature, though the proposal also doesn't extend them past 2015, when they are set to expire.
Crescent Financial's ECB Bancorp purchase closes
April 2, 2013
(StarNews, Wilmington)
Crescent Financial Bancshare's purchase of Engelhard-based ECB Bancorp closed Monday, and a transition to the VantageSouth Bank moniker will take place by the end of the month. The combined bank will have $2 billion in assets.
Corporate sponsorships could ward off ferry rate hikes
April 1, 2013
(StarNews, Wilmington)
Several coastal lawmakers want to deter rate hikes on the state's ferries by allowing corporate sponsorships of the vessels. Fares are set to increase on five routes July 1.
