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Top Story
Region's R&D Strength, Entrepreneurial Savvy
Spark Innovations in Medical Care

Startup Sicel Technologies' wireless sensors help doctors deliver the right dose of radiation -- Part 7 of a 10-part series on companies finding success with the region's clusters of innovation.

Around the Region

Radio show features leaders from 13-county region

Leaders from Franklin, Granville, Harnett and Vance counties discuss economic development issues with RTRP President and CEO Charles Hayes Wednesdays in January at 7:24 a.m. on State Government Radio AM 570.

> Hear the latest show

CertainTeed adds jobs and capacity in Research Triangle Region

A skilled rural work force prompts the building materials giant to expand its Oxford shingle plant and add 55 jobs.

Southeastern Transformer buys shell building in Harnett County

The manufacturer of electrical transmission equipment for Southeast utility companies adds 315,000 square feet of space in Harnett County for remanufacturing transformers.

Lee County's improved economic health mirrors regional trend

The economy is rebounding strongly, with unemployment nearly cut in half and retail sales and per-capita income on the rise, economic development officials report.

Retail sales rebound in Vance County

Vance County's retail sales climbed 2 percent to $522 million in fiscal year 2004 – close to the county's previous record high -- signaling an economic rebound.

Richert to lead N.C. Biotech Center business development

New VP John Richert brings more than 25 years of business development, licensing and commercialization experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries to the state's biotech support organization.

Favorable business climate attracts furniture maker to Moore County

Pinnacle Furnishings Inc., manufacturer of high-end hotel and casino furnishings, will redevelop a vacant building in Aberdeen and move from Miami.

U.S. Open means good economic news for region, local leaders say

First Citizens Bank Vice Chairman James B. Hyler Jr., a member of the USGA executive committee and former RTRP board chair, offers a bright economic forecast to 200 members of Moore County Partners in Progress.

Golden LEAF funds biotech training programs at community colleges

The organization that disperses a share of the state's tobacco settlement is spending $1.13 million to equip and support curriculum development for biopharmaceutical industry training at 13 N.C. community colleges, including Central Carolina and Piedmont community colleges in the Research Triangle Region.

Regional Initiatives

Staying on Top:

Attracting Rural Investment
Community leaders in the Kerr-Tar Region are developing an innovative multi-county mid-tech hub recommended as a rural development strategy by an RTRP study.
> Read the update

> Read the mini-hub feasibility study (.pdf)

> Visit the Web site

Blueprint for Life Sciences Growth
Protecting and growing the region's life sciences industry amid fierce competition is the topic of an RTRP life sciences industry report.
> Read the report (.pdf)

Investor Salute

RTRP salutes Touchstone Energy Cooperatives of North Carolina for its strong and continuing support of economic development.

RTRP Indicators

		Nov 2004	Oct 2004	Nov 2003
	Web site hits	77,862	87,951	60,019
	Inquiries	127	130	115

Recent Investments

Plastic Packaging Inc.'s $5 million expansion of its polyethylene film and bag company in Moore County, creating 24 jobs, is among the $433 million in investment and 1,667 new jobs announced in the region during the third quarter of 2004.

Regional Accolades
North Carolina ranks among the top 5 U.S. locations for biotechnology by Business Facilities magazine, one of many recent accolades for the region.

Recruiting Schedule

Economic developers travel to Boston in January to market the region for investment, part of a schedule of trips designed to attract jobs and opportunity to the 13-county Research Triangle Region.

Regional Events

Joe Morea, managing director and head of U.S. Equity Capital Markets for RBC Capital Markets, will keynote CED's Engage: Finance. The event, the first in CED's 2005 Engage series, will be held Jan. 27, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the RTP Sheraton Imperial Hotel & Convention Center.

RTRP Board

James Roberson, Chairman

Charles A. Hayes, RTRP President and CEO

BOARD MEMBERS

Gordon Allen, N.C. House of Representatives

Jennifer S. Andrews, attorney

John Atkins, O'Brien Atkins Associates

Ken Atkins, Wake County Economic Development Program

Roland Beauchaine, Warren County Economic Development Commission

David Benevides, IBM-RTP

Weldon "Chip" Capps, Arcola Logging Co.

Moses Carey Jr., Piedmont Health Services Inc.

John Church, Warren County EDC

Scott Custer, RBC Centura

Fred Day, Progress Energy

Don Donadio, Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice PLLC

Benny Finch, Vance County EDC

Stanley Fox, N.C. House of Representatives

Mike Gallagher, Huntington Learning Center

Terry E. Garrison, Vance-Granville Community College

Robert Greczyn, Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC

Ronnie Goswick, Franklin County EDC

Andrea Harris, NC Institute of Minority Economic Development

Bob Heuts, Lee County EDC

Alan S. Hicks, attorney

Fred Hobbs, Hobbs, Upchurch & Associates

Chris Johnson, Smithfield Downtown Development Corp.

Southgate Jones III, BB&T ASURA

Gary Joyner, Kilpatrick Stockton LLP

Marvin Joyner, Central Carolina Community College

Donald Lancaster, First Citizens Bank

Paul McCoy, retired

Lee Anne Nance, Harnett County EDC

Glen Newsome, Person County EDC

Ray Ogden, Moore County Partners in Progress

Jerry O'Keeffe, PSNC Energy Co.

Travis Porter, Maupin Taylor PA

Dianne Reid, Orange County EDC

Michael Ruffin, Durham County Manager

Henry "Hank" Scherich, Measurement Incorporated

Harvey Schmitt, Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce

Michael de Sherbinin, Johnston County EDC

J. D. Solomon, CH2M Hill

Katherine Thomas, Progress Energy

N. Johnson Tilgham, investor/developer

Steve Toler, Steve Toler LLC

Tony Tucker, Chatham County EDC

Leon Turner, Granville EDC

Carl Webb, Webb Patterson Communications

Rick Weddle, Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina

Tom White, Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce

Steve Wicker, Fidelity Bank

Pratt Winston, Winston International

Steve Wyatt, Moore County Manager

Lee Yarbrough, Novozymes North America Inc.

Lee Youngblood, Branch Banking & Trust Co.