The U.S. Treasury Department recognizes North Carolina as a national leader in implementing the State Small Business Credit Initiative, according to Commissioner for Small Business Scott Daugherty. This program was authorized in the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. It allocated $1.5 billion among the states based on population and unemployment. North Carolina’s share was $46.1 million. North Carolina was the second state to file its application to the U.S. Treasury to participate in the program and the first to …
Month: March 2013
Wednesday Open Line
The Philadelphia Flower Show — the largest such indoor event in the world — winds up this weekend. Two-hundred sixty-five thousand visitors are expected to have attended by the time the show closes on Sunday. The Philadelphia show started in 1829 and now covers 33 acres. The show now under way features the horticultural heritage of Great Britain, famous for roses and gardening. In the U.S., close to 70 percent of households take part in some form of gardening. To …
NCDA&CS to offer seminar for food processors March 27 in Raleigh
RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will offer a seminar March 27 to help Triangle-area food processors develop strategies for reducing the risk of intentional food contamination and for handling such incidents if they occur. The department’s Food and Drug Protection Division will conduct the seminar from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Jim Graham Building at the State Fairgrounds. The program is free and includes lunch, but registration is required by March 20. Register …
Leading Nuclear Energy Company to Expand in Mecklenburg County, N.C.
RALEIGH — Today, Governor Pat McCrory and North Carolina Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker announced that AREVA, the largest technical resource for the nation’s nuclear energy sector, will expand its operations in Charlotte to include its North American headquarters. The company plans to create 130 jobs in North Carolina by the end of 2016 and invest $404,000 into its Mecklenburg County location. “We are working to make our state the very best place to live and do business,” said Governor McCrory. …
Inaugural North Carolina Beer Month Set for April 2013
With the most breweries of any state south of Pennsylvania and east of Texas, North Carolina is truly the South’s beer stronghold. To celebrate the state’s craftsmanship and the destinations where it’s nurtured, breweries, hotels, restaurants and other businesses combine forces with the North Carolina Brewers Guild and North Carolina Division of Tourism for the inaugural North Carolina Beer Month, April 2013. Throughout April, beer lovers will find special tours, tastings, dinners, classes and other events as well as lodging …
Louisburg College Reclaims Ownership of Renovated Residence Halls
LOUISBURG, NC – Louisburg College is pleased to announce the re-acquisition of three residence halls that have been owned by an outside partner since 2003. Kenan Hall, Merritt Hall, and Hillman-Morris Hall once again became the property of Louisburg College on Tuesday, February 26, 2013, an achievement made possible by a loan from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development division. Though Louisburg College employees have continuously staffed the day-to-day operations of the three halls since their original construction …
N.C. Department of Public Instruction Receives 70 Charter School Applications
The N.C. Department of Public Instruction received 70 applications from organizations proposing to open a public charter school in August 2014. These applications were received by the March 1 deadline and represent the largest collection of applications ever submitted since the first public charter school opened in North Carolina in 1997. The list of applicants is now available and every application will be available online no later than Friday, March 8. “As the number of quality charter schools continues to …
State Farmers Market announces March events
RALEIGH – The first day of spring may be a few weeks away, but the State Farmers Market has already planned a full lineup of special events in March to kick off the spring growing season. The season starts with the Spring Craft Fair March 8-10. The annual event features vendors with a variety of floral arrangements and ornamental garden accessories, handmade baby blankets and quilts, jewelry and handbags, candles and soaps, as well as stained glass, woodworking and other …
Tuesday Open Line
A severe economic panic, striking in 1893, led the city of Seattle to create the nation’s first municipal unemployment assistance office on this date in 1894. State and federal unemployment assistance wasn’t established until the 1930s. Recently, the national unemployment rate, as determined by the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey, has settled to around 7.9 percent. In 2010, Washington state’s average was at the then national average of 9.6 percent. The most current unemployment rate is one of the statistics …
Vance County Democrats hold Precinct Meetings March 9th
The Vance County Democrats will hold their Precinct meetings all together. All precincts will meet in the Vance County Commissioners meeting room on March 9th at 10:00 a.m. They will have a joint opening and then break into separate precincts. Any and all registered Democrats are invited to come to be a part of these precinct meetings. The meeting will be over by 12:00.
Shoe Retailer to Expand in Mecklenburg County, N.C.
RALEIGH — Governor Pat McCrory and North Carolina Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker announced that Rack Room Shoes, a family footwear retailer, will expand its corporate headquarters in Charlotte. The company plans to create 87 jobs in North Carolina by the end of 2017 and invest $16.03 million into its Mecklenburg County location. The project was made possible in part by an award from the state Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) program. Receipt of the award is based on proof of …
Background Screening Firm to Create 400 Jobs in New Hanover County, N.C.
RALEIGH — Today, Governor Pat McCrory and North Carolina Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker announced that Castle Branch, a company that provides background screening, drug testing, employment verification, vendor credentialing and other services, will expand its corporate headquarters in Wilmington. The company plans to create 420 new jobs in North Carolina by the end of 2017 and invest $10.2 million into its New Hanover County location. “We’re proud to have Castle Branch as a strong corporate partner in North Carolina,” said …
Senator Richard Burr Newsletter
Because of Congressional inaction this week – and every week for the past two years, for that matter – sequestration, the automatic spending cuts put in place by the President, will go into effect today, March 1. While I was hopeful we could reach an agreement that would make more prioritized spending cuts, the truth is Washington has a spending problem. We need to begin to cut the size and scope of the federal government. I would prefer more targeted …
Upcoming conference offers advice for food businesses
RALEIGH — Local food businesses will have two opportunities to take part in the annual Food Business Conference sponsored by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The event, aimed at helping small-business owners grow their food businesses, has expanded to include two conference locations in Raleigh and Burnsville. Conference East will be held at the James G. Martin Building at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh April 11. The registration deadline is April 2. Conference West will be held …
Congresswoman Renee Ellmers: Protecting Your Tax Dollars and Acting Responsibly
A constituent called my office this week to say his personal family budget has already been affected this year by higher gas prices and higher taxes leaving him with a smaller paycheck. He wanted to know why it is okay for him to have to cut his budget, when at the same time the president and Democrats say we cannot survive spending cuts to the federal government’s budget. He is absolutely right. Washington has a spending problem and as responsible …
Furniture Manufacturer to Expand in Rockingham County, N.C.
RALEIGH — Today, Governor Pat McCrory and N.C. Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker announced that Southern Finishing Company, a furniture and cabinet component manufacturer, will expand its facility in Rockingham County. The company plans to create 11 jobs and invest more than $500,000 over the next three years in Stoneville. “An important part of our economic growth strategy must include increasing the number of products made in North Carolina,” said Governor McCrory. “Our state’s skilled workforce gives manufacturers a huge …
White House Weekly Address: Congress Must Compromise to Stop the Impact of the Sequester
In his weekly address, President Obama tells the American people that a series of harmful budget cuts—called the sequester—have taken effect because Congress failed to act. Because Republicans in Congress refused to compromise to close tax loopholes for the wealthiest Americans, hundreds of thousands of Americans will lose their jobs or see their paycheck reduced, and middle class families will be hurt. Congress must join the President now to replace these cuts with a balanced approach that reduces our deficit …
Monday Open Line
The first woman to serve in Congress took her seat on this date in 1917. Jeannette Rankin of Montana shortly became one of the few representatives to vote against entry into World War I, a stand that contributed to her defeat when she ran for the Senate in 1918. She reentered Congress in 1940, and putting her principles ahead of office-holding, cast the lone vote against declaring war on Japan after Pearl Harbor in 1941. Her political career, which began …
Henderson Police Department Seeking Help Identifying Robbery Suspects
The Henderson Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the suspects from the robbery that occurred at Cruizers, 800 Dabney Drive, Henderson on February 23, 2013 around 2:17 AM. First suspect was described as a tall male, 6’0” in height, and 180 lbs. Second suspect was described as a male, 5’7” in height, and 150 lbs. The Henderson Police Department encourages anyone with information related to this crime to contact the Henderson Police Department at 252-438-4141 or …
Armed Robbery in Henderson, Suspect Linwood Woodard Already Arrested
On February 28, 2013 around 11:03 AM an officer patrol in his assigned area was flagged down and advised that a robbery had just occurred in the parking lot of Roses 1471 N. Garnett Street, Henderson. Victim advised the she had returned to her vehicle from the Bank of America on N. Garnett Street. Victim advised that she was counting currency when a 25 year-old black male 6’0”in height, with a beard, wearing a black hoody, and a white shirt …