Subscribe
Forward to a friend

Top Story
Food Lion Finds Region Ideal for Logistics Success

Access to markets and transportation routes prompts Food Lion to locate two key distribution centers in the Research Triangle Region, Part 5 of a 10-part series on companies finding success within the region's clusters of innovation.

Around the Region

New radio show examines jobs, prosperity, competitiveness issues

RTRP President and CEO Charles Hayes, radio host Dean Linke and regional leaders focus on "Winning the Job Wars of the Future" every Wednesday at 7:24 a.m. on WDNZ 570 AM.

> Hear the first broadcast (2.1 MB, 5 mins)

Raleigh chamber raises $9.15 million for economic development

Chamber and Wake County Economic Development Program officials beat their fund-raising campaign goal, and donate $1.3 million to the 13-county Research Triangle Region economic development strategy.

Biolex opens biomanufacturing plant in Pittsboro

The protein therapeutics company, part of the Research Triangle Region's biotechnology cluster, will manufacture interferon used in the treatment of hepatitis C.

Mixed-use project complements Smithfield's historic downtown

A 34,000-square-foot project will blend medical and professional offices with retail and residential space, building on a two-decade effort to revitalize the Johnston County seat.

Regional entrepreneurs' optimism grows, survey shows

Prospects are good for starting or growing a business in North Carolina, according to 64 percent of respondents to a Council for Entrepreneurial Development survey.

North Carolina among top states for biotechnology, Milken Institute says

The independent economic think tank's latest report on biotechnology affirms North Carolina's industry strength and strong growth prospects.

Harnett County leader Johnson Tilghman receives governor's highest award

Johnson Tilghman, chairman of the Harnett Forward Together Committee and an RTRP board member, receives the Order of the Long Leaf Pine for his service to the community, the Dunn Daily Record reports.

Former Gov. Holshouser receives UNC Board of Governor's highest honor

Former Gov. James E. Holshouser Jr., special advisor to RTRP's board, receives the University Award in recognition of his lifetime of public service and progressive leadership, including his support for education at all levels.

 

N.C. Central University and Shodor win $2.8 million grant for digital science library

The Shodor Education Foundation and the university will maintain a new virtual "wing" of the National Science Foundation's Web-based National Science Digital Library, adding to the Research Triangle Region's intellectual capacity, a goal of the region's economic development strategy.

Regional Initiatives

Staying on Top:

Winning the Job Wars of the Future

The Research Triangle Region leads a five-year, $5 million initiative to create 100,000 jobs and boost employment in all 13 counties of the region.

> Read the plan (.pdf)

> Visit the Web site

 

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 Biogen Idec for its strong support of economic development.

RTRP Indicators

		Sept 2004	Aug 2004	Sept 2003
	Web site hits	74,743	77,982	69,127
	Inquiries	138	105	77

Recent Investments

Brainard Chemical Co. Inc.'s $2 million investment in Harnett County is among the $433 million in investment and 1,667 new jobs announced in the region during the third quarter of 2004.

Regional Accolades

UNC, a key partner in the region's economic development strategy, earns a No. 1 ranking by The Princeton Review and Forbes.com for its entrepreneurial education programs and the launch of the Carolina Entrepreneurial Initiative. It is one of many recent accolades for the region.

Recruiting Schedule

Economic developers travel to Charlotte, Greenville, Las Vegas, New Jersey and New York to market the region for investment, part of a broad strategy to create jobs and expand opportunity in the 13-county Research Triangle Region.

Regional Events

The Centers for International Business Education and Research (CIBERs) at Duke University & the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the North Carolina Department of Commerce host the second annual National Forum on Trade Policy Dec. 8-10 in Durham, one of many upcoming events for regional business people and entrepreneurs.

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

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

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.