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From Paris to Concord?

There’s a couple more things to say about Monday’s announcement that General Motors is putting together a Formula 1 team to start racing in 2026, courtesy of the British press. One is that GM’s Charlotte Technical Center — which despite its name is actually in Concord — has always been...

By Ray Gronberg

November 27, 2024

GM launching F1 team — with an NC arm

North Carolina is playing a role in the launch of a Formula 1 team, pending completion of an agreement in principle between the international racing series and General Motors. F1 officials said Monday that GM and its partners at TWG Global “have achieved operational milestones and made clear their commitment...

By Ray Gronberg

November 26, 2024

ProKidney ravamps its factory plans

Winston-Salem’s ProKidney Corp. says it’s made a $22.5 million deal to buy two buildings that will provide the therapeutics company with 180,000 feet of floor space. The deal is expected to close by the end of November, and ProKidney is already leasing portions of the buildings, the company told the...

By Ray Gronberg

November 26, 2024

Stein names Helene recovery advisory group

Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer and state Sen. Kevin Corbin, R-Macon, are co-chairing a “Rebuilding Western North Carolina” advisory panel for Gov.-elect Josh Stein. The 25-member group includes five other currently serving elected officials: state Rep. Jake Johnson, R-Polk, County Commissioners Charlie Wallin and Al Whitesides from Watauga and Buncombe counties,...

By Ray Gronberg

November 25, 2024

Sports wagering money for Carolina and State?

Berger signaled that he’s open to allowing the athletic programs at UNC Chapel Hill and NC State University share the proceeds of the state’s sports-wagering taxes. The initial authorization for the program, passed in 2023, earmarked a share of the 18% tax on sports books’ gross wagering revenue for 13 of...

By Ray Gronberg

November 22, 2024

NCInnovation invites new round of grant applications

NCInnovation has opened the application process for its next round of grants, and is seeking proposals from applied researchers in the UNC System who are looking to commercialize their work. Pre-applications are due by Dec. 13, with a screening process to follow to winnow the collection down to a subset...

By Ray Gronberg

November 22, 2024

New SBI director confirmed

It only took them a year and almost seven months to do it, but legislators have finally OKed Gov. Roy Cooper’s choice to lead the State Bureau of Investigation. The House voted 112-1 and the Senate 49-0 to confirm Cooper’s nomination of Chip Hawley, who is the current chief of...

By Ray Gronberg

November 21, 2024

Helene damage triggers layoffs and a lawsuit

E.J. Victor, a high-end Morganton furniture manufacturer, is laying off 121 workers in a downsizing related to Helene storm damages and a dispute with its insurance provider. “This layoff is the result of significant damage to the production facility from Tropical Storm Helene and our inability to rebuild due to...

By Ray Gronberg

November 21, 2024

Conservatives for Clean Energy awards

NASCAR, Walmart, Truliant Federal Credit Union, the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce, and three state legislators received the 2024 North Carolina Clean Energy Champion Awards. The 10th annual awards were presented by Conservatives for Clean Energy North Carolina and Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy. They honor policymakers, businesses, chambers of commerce,...

By Ray Gronberg

November 20, 2024

Hurricane bill update part 2

Legislators convened Tuesday to debate hurricane relief and other post-election business, with Republicans floating an omnibus bill that has a wide range of implications implications. The revised draft of Senate Bill 382 includes an additional $227 million for Western North Carolina’s recovery from Hurricane Helene, but it’s the unrelated provisions...

By Ray Gronberg

November 20, 2024

More CHIPS money for North Carolina?

The Biden administration announced on Tuesday that the Department of Commerce and a North Carolina nonprofit are entering talks on a $285 million deal to create a new institute to bolster the U.S. semiconductor industry. The talks between the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Durham-based Semiconductor Research Corp. could...

By Ray Gronberg

November 20, 2024

Hurricane relief update

A joint oversight hearing on Monday left it unclear whether legislators will spend more money on the recovery from Hurricane Florence, or rely on the same agency to deal with housing issues created by Hurricane Helene. Former Rep. Pryor Gibson, now working as a legislative aide to the N.C. Office...

By Ray Gronberg

November 19, 2024

Tim Kent

Sad news from the N.C. Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association, whose board chairman confirmed Monday afternoon that association Executive Director Tim Kent has died. Kent had led the trade group since the fall of 2010, part of a nearly 35 year career as a Raleigh trade association executive. “He’s been...

By Ray Gronberg

November 19, 2024

Wolfspeed’s CEO gets sacked

Chipmaker Wolfspeed’s board is dismissing CEO Gregg Lowe, who has led the company since 2017. The move will result in Lowe leaving the company by the end of the month and follows the board’s Nov. 12 decision to “terminate Mr. Lowe’s employment without cause,” the company said in a SEC filing....

By Ray Gronberg

November 19, 2024

Cabarrus County school bonds

Cabarrus County officials left the Local Government Commission’s November meeting with permission to borrow up to $151 million for school and library projects. But the vote came in two parts, and the approval for one of those parts was more controversial than the other. The LGC was unanimously in favor...

By Ray Gronberg

November 18, 2024

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