Professional Grant Development Workshop**Proposal I for Nonprofits & Educators**Master the techniques of writing superior and winning proposals June 21 – 22, 20128:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.To be held at: University of North Carolina-GreensboroGreensboro, North Carolina Sponsored by: The Grant Training Center This intensive two-day grant proposal workshop is geared for: 1) those who wish to strengthen their grant writing skills and 2) beginners who wish to acquire and master the techniques of preparing, writing and winning proposals from various funding …
Category: Business
North Carolina 2011 GDP growth outpaces overall U.S. and Southeast region
Anchored by the top two fastest growing cities, Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina’s economy continued to grow right along with the population according to a June 5, 2012 release from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis. The state’s economy outpaced 35 other states, growing 1.8 percent in 2011. North Carolina’s real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at twice the rate of the overall growth seen in the Southeast, which was reported at 0.9 percent. North Carolina’s growth …
Port of Wilmington Makes Top U.S. Ports Ranking
Logistics Management magazine named North Carolina’s Port of Wilmington number 18 on its list of U.S. Port Rankings for volume for the first quarter of 2012. The 42-foot channel deep water port realized 28,395 inbound twenty-foot equivalent units or TEUs for the quarter. Container movements were up more than 11% in 2011 at North Carolina’s ports. According to the Top 30 U.S. Ports article, U.S. exports are growing by a healthy five to six percent annually. North Carolina’s ports are …
Henderson, NC Paint The Town Purple
Come visit downtown Henderson, NC from June 1st to June 14th for business displays in the Paint The Town Purple contest benefiting Relay for Life. Participating businesses include: Betty B’s – 203 S. Garnett St Downtown Antiques – 207 S. Garnett St Davis Chapel Missionary Baptist Church – 742 N. Chestnut St Home in Henderson – www.homeinhenderson.com Interiors & Gifts, Too – 133 S. Garnett St Kerr Lake Nursing & Rehabilitation Ctr – 1245 Park Ave. Satin & Silk Variety …
N.C. Celebrates National Small Business Week
Business Link North Carolina, a division of the N.C. Department of Commerce, celebrates and thanks small businesses for being a vital part of the state’s economy during National Small Business Week, May 20-26. In North Carolina, 98 percent of employer businesses are considered small, with fewer than 500 employees. This means that as small businesses grow, employment and the overall economy grows. One North Carolina business owner with 34 employees, Oscar Wong, was honored at the national awards luncheon in …
Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce Membership Drive
The Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce is holding a Membership Drive on Thursday, May 24th, 2012 from 8am to 2pm. Businesses joining that day will receive: 20% off your membership investment/25% if you get someone else to join Ribbon-cutting to celebrate membership with pictures in the newsletter, tabloid, website, and the Shop Local section of the Dispatch Name on banner if front of Chamber during membership drive Free monthly listing on the website of your company’s specials Fun networking opportunities …
Statewide Visitor Profile Provides Key Marketing Data
The 2011 North Carolina Visitor Profile, which includes a wealth of demographic and spending data, is now available on the Division’s website at no cost. The research provides critical data that helps to guide the Division’s marketing decisions. For example, in 2011, 80 percent of all domestic visitors came to North Carolina for pleasure purposes, while 11 percent of visitors came to conduct business (includes meeting/convention). The average household trip expenditure for overnight visitors was $576; daytrip parties to the …
AAA: Increase in Memorial Day travel but staying closer to home
According to AAA, about 775,000 North Carolinians will travel this Memorial Day weekend, a 3 percent increase over last year. The increase is attributed to the drop in gas prices, the promising weather forecast and a decline in unemployment. Hotel bookings and rental car reservations are up and travelers seem to be taking advantage of deals being offered this year. A national survey of intended travelers found that 53 percent said recent increases in gasoline prices would not impact their …
Perdue Announces Record Level of Exports from NC
RALEIGH – Gov. Bev Perdue announced Monday that exports in 2011 surged to a record high with increased global demand supporting job growth in the state. North Carolina’s merchandise exports grew 8% (or $2.1 billion) to $27 billion, surpassing the peak of $25 billion in 2008. “North Carolina’s record level of exports in 2011 is a clear indicator that our efforts to stimulate the economy by seeking out new markets and new opportunities for trade and investment are …
Research Triangle Area Launches Workforce Recruitment Initiative
The Wake County Economic Development (WCED) in partnership with the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber’s Competitive EDGE4 program has announced the launch of “Work in the Triangle, Smarter From Any Angle,” a workforce talent recruitment and retention program for the Research Triangle region. Industry sectors targeted by the program include biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, advanced medical technologies, software/IT, cloud computing, analytics, smart grid and interactive digital media. “With our North America headquarters in the Triangle, Lenovo depends on the …
North Carolina Emerges as Southeast Aerospace and Aviation Capital
Southern Business and Development’s Winter 2012 issue touts the South as the world’s capital of aerospace and aviation. The claim was made based on factors such as: Significant Boeing operations relocating to the South Foreign-based aviation and aerospace leaders locating in the South Ten well-established aviation and aerospace clusters in the South Among the ten successful clusters listed in the American South were two North Carolina locations—Global TransPark in Kinston and the City of Monroe. North Carolina was one of …
Raleigh, Charlotte Rank in Top 5 of the Smuttiest Cities in America
Mens Health magazine peered through a statistical peephole to tabulate the following criteria: the number of DVDs purchased, rented, or streamed (AdultDVDEmpire.com); adult entertainment stores per city (StorErotica.net); rate of porn searches (Google Insights); and, for fans of soft-core, percentage of Cinemax-subscribing households (SimplyMap). Not only were Orlando folks the randiest residents coming in at #1, but Florida was also the most salacious state. Raleigh ranked #4 and Charlotte #5, Durham #22, Greensboro #44. Read more at Men’s Health: http://www.menshealth.com/health/smut-census#ixzz1uMwzgLCc
North Carolina Infrastructure for Research and Economic Development Expands in West and Southeast
MCNC, an independent, non-profit organization that employs advanced networking technologies and systems to help Community Anchor Institutions (CAIs) in North Carolina communicate more effectively, announced on April 27 the completion of the first round of the Golden LEAF Rural Broadband Initiative (GLRBI). “This first phase of the project already is having a positive impact on student learning, patient outcomes in health care, economic outcomes in job creation and community development, and is accelerating innovation and research all across the state,” …
Site Selection Ranks North Carolina 5th Most Competitive State for Business
North Carolina was once again among Site Selection’s Top-Ten Competitive States of 2011. In the May 2012 edition of the magazine, North Carolina is listed as the number five most competitive state in the nation for business. The annual ranking is based a review of 2011 economic development projects. Included in the list of criteria reviewed are: The number of new and expanded facilities; Capital investment in new and expanded facilities; The number of new jobs created; and State unemployment …
Celebrate National Small Business Week 2012
The week of May 20th, our nation’s entrepreneurs will come together online and in Washington, DC for National Small Business Week. Learn more about the event Participate Online Sign up to view the live webcast of the free educational panels. We’ll send you a reminder. With a strong focus on how small businesses can take advantage of economic opportunities and new marketing trends, topics for the educational forums this year include: Strategies and resources for taking your small business global through exporting Tips …
Forbes Ranks Raleigh-Cary No. 7 Best Big City for Jobs
The Raleigh-Cary area is emerging as one of growth. It has been recognized nationally in recent months for top growth in population, jobs and innovation. Last month, CNN conducted an analysis of U.S. Census data and found that Raleigh was the second fastest growing city in the country from 2001-2010. During that decade, the city grew over 63 percent. Raleigh was also ranked the number four best city for technology by Forbes last November. This week, Forbes released a new …
CEOs see North Carolina as One of the Best States for Business
The results of Chief Executive’s annual survey of CEO opinions of the best and worst states in which to do business were released today. North Carolina was again among the top ten best states for business, ranking third overall. In a comment released by Chief Executive, a CEO stated, “North Carolina appears to have a good balance between taxes/regulation and work environment/resources.” North Carolina was touted by CEOs who completed the survey for its living environment (five out of five …
Export Grant Program Targets N.C. Small Businesses
The N.C. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Division is making great strides with the U.S. Small Business Administration’s State Trade and Export Promotion grant program. The North Carolina STEP program, administered by the Division, is designed to increase exports and create jobs by helping small businesses promote their products and services in new international markets. The STEP grant program is part of the National Export Initiative to double U.S. exports by 2015. As part of the STEP grant program, there …
N.C. to mark National Travel & Tourism Week, Recognize Strength of Industry’s Economic Impact
North Carolina will recognize National Travel & Tourism Week this month with a range of events locally and statewide designed to highlight the contributions of the travel and tourism industry to the state’s economy. Local communities and businesses are encouraged to mark the period from May 3 through May 17 with events to showcase to policymakers and citizens the integral role tourism plays in the economies all 100 counties in North Carolina. Visitors traveling to and within the state of …
Registration open for 2012 State of the Research Triangle Region
Registration is open and limited sponsorships remain for the 2012 State of the Research Triangle Region event on May 24 at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Convention Center in Research Triangle Park. Hundreds of business and community leaders and dozens of sponsors already have signed up for the ninth annual economic development forum, hosted by the Research Triangle Regional Partnership with 2012 naming sponsor Wells Fargo. “Economic indicators are showing promising signs that our region’s economy continues to strengthen and …