News

Michael A. Jones, Lowe’s
Friday, May 24, 2013
Michael A. Jones Chief Merchandising Officer Lowe's Board of Advisors joined May 2013 Michael Jones was named Chief Merchandising Officer in January, 2013 for Lowe’s, and has responsibility for the merchandising offering for Lowe’s stores and Lowes.com, as well as all global sourcing activities. Lowe’s is the second largest home

Charlotte No. 2 in U.S. for Job-Seeking Grads
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Jacquelyn Smith, Forbes It’s graduation season: The time of year when thousands of bright-eyed twenty-somethings will leave campus and enter the “real world” in search of a happy and lucrative career. Equipped with a hard-earned diploma and a few pearls of wisdom, many will jet off to big, burgeoning cities like New

Emerging Business Leaders Program Celebrates Its First Graduating Class
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Charlotte Chamber of Commerce leaders along with officials from Northeastern University - Charlotte, Global Novations - A Korn/Ferry Company and the Compass Group gathered in Uptown on May 21 for a special graduation ceremony. The celebration of the first class to receive certificates of completion from the Emerging Business Leaders program. The graduating

Chamber Staff Among Charlotte's 50 Most Influential Women
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Congratulations are in order for Natalie English, senior vice president of public policy, and Kati Hynes, vice president of economic development. Both women will be honored on May 31 by The Mecklenburg Times as two of the Charlotte region’s 50 Most Influential Women. The award honors outstanding women in business, government, education and non-profit

Moore & Van Allen Attorneys Honored by Safe Alliance
Friday, May 17, 2013
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 16, 2013) – For the second consecutive year, Safe Alliance honored Moore & Van Allen PLLC and Charlotte Litigation Attorneys Cabell Clay and Mindy Vervais at the 3rd Annual Legal Representation Project Attorney Appreciation Event. The event, which took place on May 1, is held annually to honor the generosity of the pro bono

NC Community Colleges, Partners Address Advanced Manufacturing Skills Gap
Friday, May 17, 2013
RALEIGH – Narrowing the skills gap in advanced manufacturing is the focus of a discussion between education, government and industry leaders on Friday, May 17, 2013. The meeting, “Furthering the Advanced Manufacturing Competency Model in North Carolina,” is part of a larger effort of the North Carolina Community College System, in

Bobcats Forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Selected To NBA All-Rookie Second Team
Friday, May 17, 2013
NEW YORK, May 14, 2013 – The Portland Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard, the unanimous selection for the 2012-13 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year, headlines the 2012-13 NBA All-Rookie First Team, the NBA announced today. Lillard was the lone unanimous First Team selection (58 points, 29 First Team votes), while the Washington Wizards’ Bradley

"The Bodyguard, Esq." - Corporate Security Law Introduces Their New Data Privacy Law Attorney
Friday, May 17, 2013
MAY 14, 2013 (Charlotte, NC) Actor Will Smith’s former Director of Security, Miguel R. San Jose, Esq. CPP, now practices federal data privacy and protection law for Corporate Security Law in Charlotte, North Carolina. The “security-expert-turned-lawyer” now assists businesses to avoid fines by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and other

East Blvd. Moe’s celebrates 12 years with $2 burritos on April 25
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Charlotte, N.C. - April 9, 2013 - On April 25 Moe’s Southwest Grill located in Dilworth on East Blvd will celebrate their 12 year anniversary and thank the community with $2 burritos all-day. The Chamber of Commerce will kick off the day with a ribbon cutting at 10:30 a.m. Channel 96.1 radio personality Yankee Pete will be on site from 12 p.m. to 2

Second Power Up Finalist Crowned
Thursday, May 16, 2013
The second of seven finalists has been named in the Charlotte Chamber's Power Up Challenge. Justin Gaither, pictured above center, beat out Jon (left) and Jack (right) Moellendick at the NorthWest Power Up competition on May 16 at the Drury Inn & Suites, sponsored by Certus Bank. Gaither is president and co-founder at ECampus, LLC, a company that

Hounds Offer Special Deal for Chamber Members
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Calling all Charlotte Chamber member lacrosse fans! Come out and show your support for a fellow member by cheering on the Charlotte Hounds. Get your tickets here.

Block & Grinder Supports Veterans with Grand Opening
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Charlotte, N.C. – May 9, 2013 — Block & Grinder, the newest dining concept in the Cotswold neighborhood, is hosting an official grand opening Thursday, May 16 after a soft opening in late March. The Charlotte Chamber of Commerce will conduct a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10:45 a.m. A portion of the proceeds from the opening will support

Weichert, Realtors® - Rebhan & Associates Welcomes Mary Brooks to Sales Team
Monday, May 13, 2013
Charlotte, N.C., May 6, 2013—WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Rebhan & Associates has announced that Realtor Mary S. Brooks has joined the company’s sales team. A 28-year resident of the area, she will assist homebuyers and sellers in North and South Carolina. She is a member of the Charlotte Regional Realtor® Association and lives in

Regional Magazine Ranks McKim & Creed #1 Surveying Firm in Southeast
Monday, May 13, 2013
Charlotte, NC—Engineering News-Record Southeast magazine has ranked McKim & Creed, Inc. the #1 surveying and mapping firm in the southeastern United States. The rankings were published on May 6 and are based on 2012 revenues generated by firms doing business in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Georgia. McKim & Creed’s

UNC-TV Honors Three for Outstanding Support of Public Television
Monday, May 13, 2013
Two organizations and a husband and wife were honored for their outstanding support of public television in North Carolina at UNC-TV's annual appreciation dinner, held on May 8 at the beautiful Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary. The evening, featuring a celebration of the award-winning series Downton Abbey, serves to express UNC-TV's gratitude for the support

Moore & Van Allen Welcomes Employment Litigation Attorney
Monday, May 13, 2013
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 9, 2013) – Moore & Van Allen PLLC is pleased to announce that Anne (Annie) E. Reuben has joined the Firm’s Charlotte office Employment Litigation group. Annie Reuben represents clients on a wide range of employment matters, including employment discrimination actions, state and federal wage and hour issues, and

Community Blood Center of the Carolinas Asks Students to Help Save Summer
Monday, May 13, 2013
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – May 13, 2013 – The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas (CBCC) is calling all area high school and college students to help save summer through its Fifth Annual “Students Saving Summer Scholarship” program. High school and college students who organize and host a successful blood drive with CBCC between June and

A Child’s Place wins $75,000 from the American Honda Foundation
Monday, May 13, 2013
May 13, 2013, Charlotte, NC – A Child’s Place has received a $75,000 grant from the American Honda Foundation, based in Torrance, California for My Place Summer Day Camp. A Child’s Place is a non-profit organization working to erase the impact of homelessness on children and their education. During the summer, A Child’s Place hosts

Technology Unlocks the Power of Small Business
Monday, May 13, 2013
The success of small business is a major theme in the news these days. It played a central role in last year’s presidential election, and former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory ascended to the governor’s mansion with a fresh endorsement by the Federation of Independent Business—North Carolina’s leading small business group. Small

MWBE Connect
Thursday, May 9, 2013
The Charlotte Chamber along with the Levine Museum of the New South and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations hosted a special MWBE Connect on May 8 in the Belk Action Center. The unique program was a kickoff to the "From Sit-ins to Eat-ins" community program series to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Charlotte's desegregation in May 1963. Chamber

Diversity from the Top Down
Thursday, May 9, 2013
This month, Charlotte celebrates the 50th anniversary of the desegregation of the city’s restaurants in May 1963. African-American civil rights leaders joined with the Charlotte Chamber and the business community to peacefully integrate local establishments. Charlotte had undergone tremendous change in the past fifty years, not only in terms of racial

Small Business Week
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Join Mayor Anthony Foxx and Dr. Tony Zeiss on May 14th along with the Charlotte Business Resource Consortium for an exciting event celebrating Charlotte’s Small Business Week. The Small Business Week Conference will occur on Tuesday, May 14th from 7:30 am – 2:00pm at the CPCC Harris Conference Center. With TED-style talks featuring TEDx

Elliott Davis to Open Raleigh Office through Combination with Lunsford & Strickland
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 26, 2013 – The shareholders of Elliott Davis, PLLC and Lunsford & Strickland, P.A. have voted to combine their firms effective July 1, 2013. The combination will establish a Raleigh office for Elliott Davis, one of the largest accounting, tax and consulting services firms in the Southeast. “We have served

Benjamin Murphy, Hospitality Logistics International
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Benjamin Murphy President Hospitality Logistics International Board of Advisors joined April 2013 Benjamin Murphy is President of Hospitality Logistics International, a leading provider of transportation, logistics and supply chain services focused on the hospitality industry. His 10 years of shipping and logistics experience includes ocean, air,

Moore & Van Allen Charlotte Practice Groups Expand
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (April 25, 2013) – Moore & Van Allen PLLC is pleased to announce that Barrett (Barry) W. Price and Peter B. Stewart have joined the Firm’s Charlotte office as new attorneys. Barry Price serves as an attorney within Moore & Van Allen’s Global Services practice group. He focuses on regional, national and

Beacon Partners Expands Industrial Portfolio in Southwest Charlotte
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Charlotte, NC, April 26, 2013 - Beacon Partners, one of the area’s leading commercial real estate development firms, recently purchased two industrial buildings totaling 284,000 square feet off of Westinghouse Boulevard. This acquisition complements Beacon’s December 2011 purchase of the 1.9 million square foot Commerce Park industrial

CertusBank, N.A. Assumes Deposits and Purchases Assets of Parkway Bank
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Greenville, SC – April 26, 2013 -- CertusHoldings, Inc., announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, CertusBank, N.A., a nationally chartered bank, has assumed the deposits and certain other liabilities and purchased certain related assets of Parkway Bank, headquartered in Lenoir, North Carolina, in a Purchase and Assumption Agreement with the

Argol Villanova Group Opens US Headquarters in Charlotte
Thursday, April 25, 2013

Argol America, Inc., an Italian-owned provider of integrated logistics services, has located its North American headquarters in Charlotte at 201 South College Street, Suite 1640. The company plans to hire 20 employees in administration, IT and engineering in the next three years.


Nucor Executive Chairman Dan DiMicco Named Citizen of the Carolinas
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Dan DiMicco, executive chairman of Nucor, has been named the 2013 Citizen of the Carolinas by the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce. DiMicco will be presented with the award at the chamber’s Annual Meeting in December. The Citizen of Carolinas, sponsored by Duke Energy, is the most prestigious award presented by the Charlotte Chamber. DiMicco will be

BlackGold Biofuels Expands to Charlotte
Wednesday, April 24, 2013

BlackGold Biofuels, a firm that recycles organic fats, oils and greases from commercial wastewater into biofuel, has announced the opening of a recycling facility at 4826 Worth Place in Charlotte, N.C. The project is adding well-paying full time jobs with benefits in addition to the jobs created during construction and with suppliers. The multimillion-dollar facility included numerous site improvements, increasing the value and utility of the formerly underutilized Brookshire Boulevard “Distressed Business Corridor” in which it is located.


China-Based IT Consulting Firm Establishes US IT Services Headquarters in Charlotte
Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Pactera Technology International Ltd., the largest IT consulting and technology services firm in China, has located its U.S. IT Services headquarters in Charlotte at 6100 Fairview Road, Suite 560. Pactera’s Charlotte office was formed through a merger between IT services firms HiSoft Technology International Ltd. (NASDAQ:HSFT) and VanceInfo Technologies Inc. (NYSE: VIT). With 23,300 employees worldwide, the Charlotte office currently employs 60 people and plans to add an additional 200 jobs in the next three years.


Does the Cost of Recycling Impact Your Business?
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Mecklenburg County, in accordance with the 2012 Solid Waste Management Plan, is considering making changes to the Source Separation Ordinance (business recycling law). These changes could include lowering the threshold of who the law impacts, reducing or removing current exemptions or expanding the number of materials affected. Mecklenburg County has

China-Based IT Consulting Firm Establishes US IT Services Headquarters in Charlotte
Monday, April 22, 2013

Pactera Technology International Ltd., the largest IT consulting and technology services firm in China, has located its U.S. IT Services headquarters in Charlotte at 6100 Fairview Road, Suite 560. Pactera’s Charlotte office was formed through a merger between IT services firms HiSoft Technology International Ltd. (NASDAQ:HSFT) and VanceInfo Technologies Inc. (NYSE: VIT). With 23,300 employees worldwide, the Charlotte office currently employs 60 people and plans to add an additional 200 jobs in the next three years.


BlackGold Biofuels Expands to Charlotte
Monday, April 22, 2013

BlackGold Biofuels, a firm that recycles organic fats, oils and greases from commercial wastewater into biofuel, has announced the opening of a recycling facility at 4826 Worth Place in Charlotte, N.C. The project is adding well-paying full time jobs with benefits in addition to the jobs created during construction and with suppliers. The multimillion-dollar facility included numerous site improvements, increasing the value and utility of the formerly underutilized Brookshire Boulevard “Distressed Business Corridor” in which it is located.


Call to Action: Help Keep the Panthers in Charlotte!
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Help keep the Panthers in Charlotte! Charlotte City Council will vote on Monday on a revised proposal to aid in renovations to Bank of America stadium. The deal has changed due to the legislation which passed the legislature last week. The Panthers provide great economic benefit to our community in the way of sales tax revenue, occupied hotel rooms and

m_PAC USA Chooses Charlotte for U.S. Headquarters
Thursday, April 11, 2013

m_PAC USA, LLC announced today the opening of its new headquarters in Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina. m_PAC USA is an independently operated company that works closely with its partners m_PAC AG in Hamburg, Germany, and ACMP, LLC in Amman, Jordan.


Airport Public Input Meeting
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
The City of Charlotte is seeking comment from the public on pending legislation regarding governance of the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. A public input meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 16, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., in Room 267 at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center. The April 16th meeting gives interested citizens and

German Manufacturer RPS Robot Protection Systems Inc. Opens First U.S. Office in Charlotte
Tuesday, April 9, 2013

RPS Robot Protection Systems GmbH, a privately owned German manufacturer, announced today the opening of its first 
U.S. subsidiary, RPS Robot Protection Systems, Inc., in Charlotte at 112 South Tryon Street. The new office strategically positions RPS to service the U.S. market from one central location. Charlotte’s proximity to customers, direct air connections, low cost of doing business, and its business-friendly atmosphere and quality of life factored into the company’s decision to relocate.


Welcome Aboard
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Tenisha Waldo Tenisha Waldo has joined the Charlotte Chamber as its new director of communications. In her new role, Waldo is responsible for strategic communications planning as well as promoting the Charlotte Chamber and its mission through branding, publications, electronic communications and social media. She comes to the chamber from Food

2013 Charlotte Chamber Transportation Summit
Thursday, April 4, 2013
With the uncertainty of funding for transportation infrastructure at all levels of government, how will we address our future growth? Our hub airline is on the verge of a merger. We have a master plan for expansion of our airport. The road needs in our region far outweigh the revenues collected through the gas tax. And, the half-cent sales tax for transit

Lake Norman Regional Economic Development Corporation Hires New Director
Wednesday, April 3, 2013

The Lake Norman Regional Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Ryan McDaniels of Cornelius, N.C., has accepted the position of executive director of the Lake Norman Regional Economic Development Corporation.  He will start in his new position April 15, 2013.


SCHLEICH Relocates North America Headquarters to Charlotte
Tuesday, April 2, 2013

SCHLEICH North America Inc., the German-based world-market leader in soft plastic figurines and collectibles, announced today that it will relocate all operations from Ottawa, Ontario Canada, to Charlotte. The move will create 60 new jobs in Charlotte.


XPO Logistics Will Add 287 New Jobs in Charlotte
Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Governor Pat McCrory and North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Sharon Decker announced today that XPO Logistics plans to expand its national operations center in Charlotte, creating 287 new jobs by the end of 2014 and investing $688,000 in its Ballantyne Corporate Park location.


Chinese-Owned Tides and Times Group USA Expands in Charlotte, Will Add 30 Jobs
Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Tides and Times Group USA, Inc. (TTG), one of America’s largest exporters of hardwood lumber to Asia, announced today that it will expand its headquarters operation in Charlotte, adding 30 jobs. The Chinese-owned company operates hardwood sawmills and lumber-drying facilities in the U.S. as well as sales offices and a distribution center in Asia.


2013 Employer Learning Series
Monday, March 25, 2013
Charlotte Works is pleased to announce the 2013 Employer Learning Series (ELS), 11 FREE workshops designed to support and improve the knowledge base of Charlotte-area employers. Presented by Central Piedmont Community College, North Carolina State University-IES, The Employers Association and UNC Charlotte, the ELS will help to create better business

Chamber Launches Aggressive Campaign to Keep Panthers in Charlotte
Friday, March 22, 2013
Note: This week Charlotte Chamber of Commerce President Bob Morgan encouraged the N.C. General Assembly to act more urgently in addressing the opportunity to secure the presence of the NFL Carolina Panthers in Charlotte and the state of North Carolina. Excerpts of his remarks in response to questions from members include: How many times does a public

Skains and Piedmont Natural Gas Honored by Chamber's SouthPark Chapter
Friday, March 22, 2013

US Airways CEO Doug Parker Meets with Charlotte Chamber Group
Thursday, March 21, 2013

2013 Business Showcase Biggest Yet
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Good news travels fast! Business Showcase is the only trade show produced by the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce. The 13th annual Business Showcase is a joint collaboration with Greater Hotel and Tourism Alliance held at the Park and Expo Conference Center. With 150 vendor booths, over 1100 attendees and the best in B2B networking, Business Showcase has the

Kübler Group, Chooses Charlotte for U.S. Operation
Tuesday, March 19, 2013

The Kübler Group, a privately-held German manufacturer, announced today the opening of its first U.S. subsidiary, Kuebler Inc., in Charlotte at 5245-3 Old Dowd Road. Kübler specializes in the manufacture of innovative position and motion sensors, counting and process technology, and transmission technology.


Tracie Coronado, Data Facts
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Tracie Coronado Director of Sales Data Facts, Inc. Board of Advisors joined March 2013 Tracie Coronado serves as the Director of Sales for the Background Screening, Drug Testing, and Business Credit Divisions of Data Facts, Inc. She is an original member of Data Facts from 1989. She served as Vice President of 5 years before moving to the Carolinas.

Charlotte Chamber Lobbies in D.C.
Friday, March 15, 2013
The topic of sequestration’s impact on the local business community was the hot button issue on Charlotte area congressional leaders’ minds during the Charlotte Chamber's 2013 visit to the nation's capitol. Elected officials who met with the chamber delegation discussed bills that they are sponsoring to help drive the economy in our state.

Chinese Firm Masterwork USA Establishes U.S. Headquarters in Charlotte
Thursday, March 14, 2013

Masterwork USA Inc., a Chinese print finishing equipment manufacturer, has purchased 3700 Rose Lake Drive in Coffey Creek Business Park for its new U.S. headquarters location. The Charlotte office will also serve as a sales office, showroom and after-sales customer service location. Masterwork USA currently employs four people but expects to add 30 more jobs in the next five years.


Charlotte Minority Economic Development Initiative Expands
Thursday, March 14, 2013
The Charlotte Minority Economic Development Initiative (CMEDI) has officially launched Phase II of its 18-month initiative to expand the footprint of minority business in the Greater Charlotte area. This program cultivates relationships between corporations and minority businesses while generating economic opportunities and professional development.

Manufacturers Council Quarterly Hot Topics Meeting
Thursday, March 14, 2013
The Charlotte Chamber Manufacturers Council has been in existence for nearly 20 years. During that time, the organization has continued to play an important role for local manufacturers in a number of ways including: Advocating for manufacturers in the public arena; Promoting economic development initiatives to help manufacturers grow in Mecklenburg

Bridging the Gap Between Academic and Entrepreneurial Capital
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
The UNC Charlotte ADVANCE Faculty Affairs and Diversity Office is co-hosting a conference, “Bridging the Gap Between Academic and Entrepreneurial Capital: Strategies for Success for Women and Under-Represented Minorities.” The goal of the conference is to educate female and minority faculty and students and interested community members about

John O’Rourke, Lime Energy
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
John O'Rourke President/CEO Lime Energy Board of Advisors joined March 2013 Lime Energy is a leading national provider of energy efficiency to utility small business customers. O'Rourke was appointed as Director of the North Carolina-based company in July 2011, and was promoted to President and CEO of Lime after serving as COO since 2009. He has 25

Jim Vickers, Jr., Business Technical Services, LLC (BTS)
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Jim Vickers, Jr. COO Business Technical Services, LLC (BTS) Board of Advisors joined December 2012 Jim Vickers, Jr. is Chief Operating Officer of Business Technical Services, LLC (BTS). BTS, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, is a technology services firm engaged in cathodic protection, industrial coating applications and a variety of infrastructure

MetLife to Create 1,300+ Jobs in Charlotte
Thursday, March 7, 2013

Governor Pat McCrory announced today that MetLife Inc., a leading global life insurance and employee benefits company, plans to create more than 1,300 jobs in Charlotte and roughly the same number of jobs in Cary, totaling upwards of 2,600 jobs in the state by the end of 2015. Today’s announcement is the largest jobs announcement in recent North Carolina history.


MetLife Charlotte Celebration to Air Live
Thursday, March 7, 2013
It's Charlotte's turn to officially congratulate MetLife executives today. As you have no doubt heard by now, more than 1,300 jobs will be created by the company's expansion in Charlotte. We expect a packed house at 11:00 a.m. in the Chamber's Belk Action Center where N.C. Governor Pat McCrory, Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker, N.C. Speaker of the House

Chamber on Path to Surpass 2012 Job Creation Total by 2Q of 2013
Thursday, March 7, 2013
To say 2013 is off to a good start at the Charlotte Chamber is an understatement. In just 72 hours this week, three jobs announcements were made including Fortune 50 company, MetLife; energy giant Areva's new North American headquarters location and a solid boost to our manufacturing sector with Otto Environmental Systems plant expansion. Combined, the

Workplace Issues Committee To Talk Immigration Reform
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Immigration reform is a key issue on the federal level. The Charlotte Chamber Workplace Issues committee will hear from speakers discussing immigration reform proposals and the potential impact on the business community. Sarah Buffett from Moore & Van Allen will talk to us about legislation, and Lisa Atkins with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will be live

BusinessFirst Annual Survey Projects Steady Growth in 2013
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Looking Ahead in 2013 Annual Report, click here About BusinessFirst Charlotte: BusinessFirst Charlotte is a business expansion and retention program of the Charlotte Chamber and the City of Charlotte focused on helping Charlotte-Mecklenburg businesses grow. Through problem solving and advocacy, BusinessFirst Charlotte serves local businesses by

Otto Environmental Systems to Expand Charlotte Plant
Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Governor Pat McCrory and N.C. Secretary of Commerce Sharon Decker announced today that Otto Environmental Systems North America, Inc. will expand its Charlotte manufacturing plant, adding 32 new jobs and investing $7 million in new capital equipment. The jobs are projected to have an average wage of $38,179 plus benefits.


AREVA Relocates North American Headquarters to Charlotte, Adds Engineering Jobs
Monday, March 4, 2013

North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory and North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Sharon Decker announced today that AREVA will relocate its North American headquarters to Charlotte and create additional engineering jobs. AREVA, a world-leading nuclear energy provider with global headquarters in Paris, plans to create 130 jobs over the next four years. Compensation will vary by job function, but the average compensation for new positions is expected to be $130,000 plus benefits.


Rack Room Shoes Expands its Corporate Headquarters
Friday, March 1, 2013

Rack Room Shoes, a privately-owned footwear retailer, will expand its corporate headquarters in Charlotte and relocate the headquarters of its subsidiary, Off Broadway Shoes, from Georgia to Charlotte. This expansion will enable the company to increase the number of retail stores and sales, specifically growing the Off Broadway brand over the next five years.


Chamber Intern Ann Woo Wows with her Tweets!
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Meet the newest additon to the Charlotte Chamber team - at least until the first of May. She is Ann Woo, a Charlotte native and UNC Charlotte senior, who is interning in our research department. This isn't Ann's first experience with the chamber. She helped our research team on a few projects this past fall. She enjoyed the work so much, she agreed to

CMS Wants Your Input!
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will hold three town-hall meetings in the coming weeks. The meetings will provide an opportunity to gather employee and public input on budget priorities and to share information from the 22 task forces convened by the superintendent. The first town hall will be Feb. 27 at E.E. Waddell Language Academy (7030 Nations Ford Rd.,

Charlotte Chamber Metro Chapter Announces 2013 Board of Directors
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
The Metro Chapter of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce its 2013 Board of Directors: Chair: Colleen Brannan, BRANSTORM PR 1st Vice Chair: Sean Owens, Charlotte Knights Baseball Club 2nd Vice Chair: Sheila Fletcher, Full House Productions Immediate Past Chair: Jeff Mann, CRVA Rhonda Caldwell, The Main Event Allen Clark, Charlotte

Harry Jones and Moira Quinn Need Your Help!
Saturday, February 23, 2013
What if you could prevent a family from hearing the words, “You have cancer”? What if you could help save lives from cancer and give people more precious time with family and friends? Well, you can! Charlotte area residents have an unprecedented opportunity to participate in an historic study that has the potential to change the face of cancer

Plain and Simple: Renovations Must be Made at Bank of America Stadium
Friday, February 22, 2013
The following letter is published in today's edition of the Charlotte Business Journal: The Charlotte Chamber of Commerce fully supports an effort to provide public funds for the renovation of Bank of America Stadium. Renovations paid for with tax revenues provide an opportunity to tie the team to Charlotte no matter what happens to the ownership team in

Convergys to Create 1,600 New Jobs
Wednesday, February 20, 2013

The Charlotte Chamber of Commerce announced today that Convergys, a business process outsourcing global leader in providing customer care, plans to create more than 1,600 jobs in Charlotte at its two facilities in southeast Charlotte and in the University City area. Convergys is spending $1.8 million to renovate its existing 8600 McAlpine Park Drive facility.


Convergys to Create 1,600 New Jobs
Wednesday, February 20, 2013

The Charlotte Chamber of Commerce announced today that Convergys, a business process outsourcing global leader in providing customer care, plans to create more than 1,600 jobs in Charlotte at its two facilities in southeast Charlotte and in the University City area. Convergys is spending $1.8 million to renovate its existing 8600 McAlpine Park Drive facility.


Small Business Guide to Federal, State and Corporate Procurement Opportunities
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
The Charlotte Chamber of Commerce is pleased to provide our members with Braddock's Procurement Opportunities Guide. The just released 2013 Edition is designed to help small-business owners and decision-makers understand the procurement process used by governments and large corporations. The Guide provides an overview of government and corporate markets

Big Brothers Big Sisters Congratulates LPL Financial on Being Named Business Partner of the Year
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
LPL Financial was named Business Partner of the Year at the 2013 Mayor’s Mentoring Alliance celebration on January 24 at Discovery Place for its partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Charlotte and Reid Park Academy. The Business Partner of the Year award is given by the Mayor’s Mentoring Alliance to a business that provides a

In Perspective: The Dallas Morning News Analysis of US Airways/American Merger
Thursday, February 14, 2013
In clash of visions, US Airways had the winning idea For years, executives at American Airlines fought to stave off bankruptcy because they worried about controlling their destiny. Who knew they would lose it all? Later this week, American and US Airways are expected to finalize a merger agreement to create the world’s largest airline. Look for

Charlotte Chamber of Commerce Statement on US Airways/American Merger
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Charlotte Chamber of Commerce Statement on US Airways/American Merger “Doug Parker has long sought a merger to secure the long term competitiveness of US Airways. This week's announcement is a remarkable affirmation of his determination and ability to pull off what looked rather unlikely one year ago. Jerry Orr, our Aviation Director, has long

Immigration Matters Forum
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Immigration Matters The Charlotte Chamber of Commerce is proud to help sponsor the Immigration Matters Forum. It is a fast-paced, focused forum designed to elevate the immigration conversation. The forum draws on global trends, policy issues, best practices, and personal stories to illustrate North Carolina’s diversity and economic reliance on

2013 Advanced Manufacturing Awards
Thursday, February 14, 2013
The Charlotte Business Journal, along with our partner Centralina Economic Development Commission, presents this awards program to recognize and celebrate process excellence, leadership and collaboration in Advanced Manufacturing displayed in our region during 2012. At the awards luncheon, we will reveal the winner of each award category, and the winners

Italian Solar Panel Installation Firm Establishes U.S. HQ in Charlotte
Monday, February 11, 2013

Siser USA LLC, an Italian-owned solar panel installation firm, has located its U.S. headquarters in Charlotte at 11111 Carmel Commons Boulevard, Suite 112. The firm plans to hire 10 employees in the next three years, including engineers, designers and architects. 


AllFit, Inc. Relocates Headquarters to Charlotte
Thursday, February 7, 2013

AllFit, Inc., a company that specializes in the warehousing, delivery and assembly of physical fitness equipment, is relocating its headquarters from Conover to Charlotte and will consolidate three Southeastern distribution centers here.


Charlotte to the Capitol
Thursday, February 7, 2013
. Take advantage of your chance to represent the Charlotte business community and remind legislators of businesses' needs during our annual trip to D.C. on March 13 to 14, 2013. During the trip, chamber rmembers will have a private briefing with U.S. Chamber of Commerce representatives to gain better insight on issues affecting business, including

CLT Breaks Passenger Traffic Record in 2012
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Charlotte Douglas passenger traffic reached a record high in 2012 with 41.23 million travelers visiting the Airport last year – the largest in Airport history. It’s a 5.6 percent jump from 2011, which saw 39.04 million passengers. Click here to review the monthly activity and traffic reports from 2012. Airport officials attribute much of the

InVue Security to Grow in Charlotte; Will Hire 70 Over Five Years
Friday, February 1, 2013

North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory and N.C. Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker announced today that InVue Security Products Inc., a security firm focusing on retail theft, will expand its global headquarters in Charlotte. The company plans to create 70 jobs with an average salary of $83,000 and invest $11 million by the end of 2017.


Charlotte Chamber Launches Legacy Club
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Thank you for your commitment to the Charlotte Chamber! "We wish to acknowledge and celebrate your support through a new program - The Legacy Club - and wanted to share the news with you! As part of our Legacy Club, the chamber will recognize and honor long-time chamber members who have shown a consistent commitment to the organization and its

Global Competitiveness Summit II
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
On February 21, 2013, business, education and community leaders are invited to attend Global Competitiveness Summit II. Building on the success of the August 2012 Summit, Global II will continue to focus on the competitive advantages needed for the region to increase global trade and excel in the world market. From transportation logistics, workforce

Democratic National Convention Creates Lasting Impact on Charlotte Region
Monday, January 28, 2013
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Jan. 28, 2013) – The 2012 Democratic National Convention (DNC) held in Charlotte, N.C., in September 2012 was the single largest event in the city’s history, producing an equally impressive economic impact of $163.6 million. Results were shared today by Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx along with the partner organizations that

Chamber Announces Power Up Chapter Challenge
Friday, January 25, 2013
The Charlotte Chamber is about job creation. It is well-noted that entrepreneurs play a substantial role in our job vitality. The chamber has a variety of programs to support small businesses and entrepreneurs, and this year – under the leadership of 2013 chairman Brett Carter (Duke Energy) – we are launching the inaugural Power Up

Meet Me @info charlotte
Monday, January 14, 2013
Looking for a place to meet uptown? Look no further than Info Charlotte. There are multiple table’s chairs and even some lounge like cushions to fit your every need. Info Charlotte is complete with WiFi so come visit us and see what all the hype is about! Comprised of information and casual meeting space, Info Charlotte combined with the Visitor Info

Linet Lands Lucrative Deal with Premier
Friday, January 11, 2013

The Charlotte Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce a critical partnership reached between two headquarter member companies in the rapidly growing health care sector. LINET, a worldwide leader in hospital beds and patient room equipment, is now an approved supplier to Premier healthcare alliance’s 2,700 acute care facilities.


Honoring the Area's Energy Industry Leaders
Thursday, January 10, 2013
The Charlotte Business Journal's 3rd Annual Energy Leadership Awards program is nearly here. The event honors individuals who have played a key role in making the Carolinas a global player in the energy industry. This year's luncheon is on Friday, January 25 at the Ritz-Carlton. Congratulations to the 2013 winners: Ronak Bhatt, RIN Advisors Philip Dubois,

Former Charlotte Chamber Chair Named N.C. Secretary of Commerce
Thursday, January 3, 2013
January 3, 2013 – Charlotte Chamber of Commerce CEO and President, Bob Morgan today commended Governor-elect Pat McCrory on his selection of Sharon Decker for N.C. Secretary of Commerce. “The choice of Sharon Decker is inspiring. She offers superb business acumen with a keen sense of what it will take to move Charlotte and our state

2013 to See Modest Growth
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Looking for some semblance of positive economic news now that 2013 has arrived? UNC Charlotte Associate Professor Harry Campbell has just released his year-end analysis of economic indicators with a look ahead to the new year, and he sees signs for guarded optimism. “Charlotte is again gaining ground, and our leading economic index points to

Internationally Recognized Author to Speak in Charlotte
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Internationally recognized author and urban policy expert Joel Kotkin will be the featured speaker at the 2013 REBIC Forum in Charlotte on January 16. Kotkin will discuss how Charlotte and other cities need to prepare for America's coming population boom. Described by the New York Times as America's "uber-geographer," Kotkin has been one of the nation's

TSA Administrator to Host Town Hall Meeting at Chamber
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator John S. Pistole will travel to Charlotte in January to listen to community members opinions of how the agency is performing and how it might be improved. Pistole will also brief business leaders on future plans for the agency and his vision to make TSA a high-performing counterterrorism organization

JELD-WEN to Locate North American Headquarters in Charlotte
Thursday, December 13, 2012

North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue announced today that JELD-WEN will locate its North American headquarters in Charlotte. JELD-WEN, inc., a manufacturer of windows and doors with global headquarters in Klamath Falls, Ore., plans to create 142 jobs and $2 million in investment in the next two years. Compensation will vary by job function, but the average annual payroll will be more than $13.4 million, plus benefits.


Chamber Economic Developer Named Commercial Real Estate Person of the Year
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Kati Hynes Charlotte Chamber economic developer Kati Hynes has been honored by Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Charlotte as commercial real estate person of the year. She accepted the award and was the keynote speaker at the organization's Excellence Awards at The Ritz-Carlton on Tuesday. As an economic developer for the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce,

Charlotte CROP Hunger Walk Continues To Collect Holiday Donations
Monday, December 10, 2012
As we approach the holiday season, we reflect on our many blessings. We are reminded that while we live in a land of plenty, there are many around the world who do not have enough to eat, some even in our own community. Consider this: Every 5 seconds a child dies from hunger-related causes There are over 1 billion people in the world who are

WANTED: Committed Volunteers for United Way’s Project 1,000
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Did you know that United Way of Central Carolinas serves more than 23,000 at-risk students through 16 funded agencies in Mecklenburg County? Did you also know that research has shown that mentors, tutors, and regular volunteers can have a huge impact on a young child’s academic success? That’s why United Way has launched Project 1,000. The goal

Barnes Named 2012 Ken Akers Award Winner
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Bob Morgan presents the 2012 Ken Akers Award to Michael Barnes at the November Board of Advisors meeting for his outstanding service to the chamber. Chamber CEO and President Bob Morgan presented the 2012 Ken Akers Award to Michael Barnes at the Board of Advisors meeting on November 26 at The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte. Barnes is vice president of Unique

Economic Outlook Conference
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan will spend at least one day in Charlotte this month. Moynihan - whose Boston residency frequently comes up in local conversation about Charlotte-based BofA - will be one of six panelists at the Charlotte Chamber's annual Economic Outlook Conference on Dec. 17 at the Charlotte Convention Center. Joining him will be Duke

YellowWood Group, LLC Chooses Charlotte
Monday, November 26, 2012

YellowWood Group, LLC, a strategic marketing, consulting, planning and management solutions firm based in Raleigh, has chosen Charlotte for its new sales office. Using its proprietary strategic model to help companies identify and leverage market differentiators and assert their competitive advantage, the company specializes in closing the sales gap that exists between marketing initiatives and sales performance.


Energy Summit is EPIC Success
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
There is no disputing the growing importance of the energy sector to the Charlotte region. It employs more than 25, 500 people in 202 companies in the manufacturing, construction, utilitiesand wholesale industries just to name a few. Those 25,000 jobs bring in $27 million in sales tax revenue, $1 million in philanthropic contributions, $2.9 billion in

Charlotte’s Fastest-Growing Companies Revealed
Monday, November 19, 2012
The Charlotte Business Journal will recognize the region’s fastest-growing privately held companies December 6 as part of the annual Fast 50 program. Businesses qualified for Fast 50 recognition based on a formula that reflects dollar and percentage growth during a three-year period. Companies applied for inclusion by submitting nominations that

2012-2013 Excellence in Leadership Award
Monday, November 19, 2012
The Rotary Club of Charlotte, the Charlotte Chamber and The Charlotte Business Journal are joining forces in the search for the 25th winner of the Excellence in Leadership Award. This year's presentation will be made on January 22, 2013 at Myers Park Country Club. Nominees should exhibit outstanding qualities within their profession and in their role as a

Tis the Season for a Spectacular Light Show
Monday, November 19, 2012
Videos of Mammoth Christmas display outside the Stanford home in South Charlotte. This year the light spectacular moves to the Speedway. Speedway Christmas kicks off this weekend and new for 2012, visitors can skate on an outdoor ice rink, ride a camel and drive through more light displays than ever before. The Coca-Cola Family Ice Rink, sponsored

Time Warner Cable Opens $82 Million National Data Center on Charlotte Campus
Friday, November 16, 2012
Charlotte, NC (November 16, 2012) – Time Warner Cable (TWC) has officially opened National Data Center East on its Charlotte campus, just one of two centers of its kind nationwide for the company. Announced last summer as part of a $101 million expansion project in Charlotte, the Data Center supports the equipment necessary to deliver service for Time

The Countdown to an Uptown Ballpark
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Uptown Charlotte is undergoing a facelift of sorts just blocks from Bank of America Stadium and a few streets behind the chamber's offices. Ground was broken in September on the future site of BB&T Ballpark, where in the spring of 2014 the Knights will begin play at their new home. Renderings of the stadium are stunning. Officials say the facility can

Ready, Set, Spend!
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Ask the Chamber's Research Department Pictured from left to right: Madeline Caryl, research associate; Erin Watkins, senior research director; Andrew Bowen, research director Question: The Commerce Department released national retail sales numbers this week that showed a decline for the first time in four months. How does Mecklenburg County compare

Wanted: Fortune 1000 Companies
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
The chamber's economic development recruiters have a high tech tool to target 25 companies potentially ripe for a move. This week, they sent CEOs of strategically selected businesses Kindles equipped with a high definition video of Charlotte and a photographic slideshow. "We felt like now was the perfect time to launch this campaign with Charlotte fresh

Join the IT Talent Rallying Challenge
Monday, November 12, 2012
Charlotte regional IT organizations will come together on December fourth to launch IT-ology, a non-profit collaboration of businesses, academic institutions and other organizations dedicated to growing the IT talent pipeline and advancing the IT profession. Charlotte business, educational and organizational leaders will engage in an informative discussion

Perspectives in Leadership
Thursday, November 8, 2012
The final "actor's studio" style Perspectives in Leadership event in 2012 was held in the Chamber's Belk Action Center on November 8. The guest speaker was Shannon McFayden, a highly respected consultant and executive coach, who is known for her expertise in leadership effectiveness, communications, talent management and organizational culture. Before

Samaritan's Feet
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Charlotte Chamber executive committee member, Dr. Ophelia Garmon-Brown is no stranger to struggle. In fact, it was the hardship she faced as a child growing up in inner-city Detroit that helped to mold her into the health care executive she is today. Now, vice president of community partnerships for Novant Health Incorporated, Garmon-Brown's personal as

Celebrating Contributions to Charlotte
Thursday, November 1, 2012
The March of Dimes is pleased to honor Ms. Linda Lockman-Brooks, Founder of Lockman-Brooks Marketing Services, as the recipient of its 2012 “Celebrating Contributions to Charlotte” award. This honoree breakfast event will take place on Thursday, November 29, 2012 from 7:30 – 9 am at the Mint Museum in Uptown Charlotte. This award was

Federal Funding Available for Manufacturers
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Did you know that manufacturers in our area may be eligible for up to $75,000 in federal cost-share funding? Distressed firms that have experienced declines in both employment and sales, as a direct result of import competition, are eligible to apply for certification and assistance through the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms (TAAF) program. The

Paul Brunson - MWBE Connect Series
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Breakout star and entrepreneur extraordinaire Paul Brunson was the special guest speaker at the chamber's MWBE Connect breakfast event this week. The Oprah phenom shared his success story experience with members in the no holds barred style that has rocketed his brand.

Strong 3Q Boasts More Than a Billion in Investments
Thursday, October 18, 2012
While the Queen City still basks in the positive aftermath of hosting the Democratic National Convention, additional encouraging news continues to emerge. The first nine months of 2012 have yielded 899 new or expanding firms creating 7,044 jobs. For the first time since 2008, investment has surpassed $1 billion. These numbers indicate that activity this

New Board of Directors Named
Thursday, October 18, 2012
The Charlotte Chamber is pleased to introduce the following 12 members to serve a three-year term on the Board of Directors, effective at the Annual Meeting on November 27, 2012. Congratulations to the Class of 2015!

Access to Capital
Thursday, October 18, 2012
register now Tuesday, Oct. 30 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. UNC Charlotte Student Union (directions) $10 in advance $20 at the door same price for members & non-members Financing & Corporate Partnerships for High-Growth Entrepreneurs Are you an entrepreneur who needs capital to scale your business or an established company that wants to explore new

Best Places to Work 2012
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Fifty-nine companies in the Charlotte region have been selected to be honored at the Charlotte Business Journal’s 2012 Best Places to Work event on Nov. 9, based on the results of employee-engagement surveys. Quantum Workplace facilitated the online employee surveys, selected honorees and ranked companies according to their overall scores.The Charlotte

What Charlotte Has that Silicon Valley Doesn't
Thursday, October 4, 2012
There has been plenty of talk about creating Charlotte's entrepreneurial ecosystem over the past two years, but now one authority on the subject is challenging the business community to put their money where their mouth is. Dr. Ted Zoller, director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at UNC Chapel Hill's Kenan-Flagler Business School, made his case to

SunTrust Opens Lending Sales Center in Charlotte Creating 100 Jobs
Wednesday, October 3, 2012

The Charlotte Chamber along with SunTrust Banks, Inc. today announced the opening of a new state-of-the-art loan sales center in Charlotte to underwrite and process mortgage loans. Currently staffed with approximately 40 underwriting professionals, plans are to expand the number of employees to 100 within the next three months. 

 

Chamber Economic Development Team Wins Gold Award
Monday, October 1, 2012

The Charlotte Chamber has been named the gold medal winner in Atlas Advertising’s High Performance Economic Development category for economic development organizations. The chamber attained this status by announcing the most jobs and capital investment created for any organization of its size in 2011-2012. As part of Atlas Advertising’s High Performance Economic Development Benchmarking Survey, the Charlotte Chamber reported the creation of 8,850 jobs in the greater Charlotte area over the past 12 months.


UNC Charlotte: A Critical Chamber Ally
Thursday, September 27, 2012
UNC Charlotte Chancellor Phil Dubois was the keynote speaker at Thursday's quarterly Economic Development Breakfast. Dubois wowed the crowd with a look back and into the future of the UNC System's fastest growing institution. Once considered a commuter school, UNC Charlotte now has an estimated 5,000 students who live on campus and thousands more within a

Jim Rogers Talks Entrepreneurism and its Importance to Charlotte
Thursday, September 27, 2012
When you think of entrepreneurs, Duke Energy's Jim Rogers might not be the first person who comes to mind. In fact, he got his start as an entrepreneur when he was only a child working from home for his parents business. Rogers is so passionate about the subject that he took time out of his busy schedule to talk to chamber members at this year's Annual

TZ Insurance Solutions LLC Opens Charlotte Location Adding 125 New Jobs — 45 Immediately
Wednesday, September 26, 2012

TZ Insurance Solutions LLC, with offices in Tampa and Fort Myers, Florida and Dublin, Ohio, is expanding its workforce through a new location in Charlotte, creating 125 new jobs with the potential of 250 in the near future.  The company expects to fill up to 45 of the new positions within the next two weeks with training beginning the week of October 8. The new jobs will be primarily for inside licensed life and health insurance agents.


What is the Workforce Freedom Initiative?
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Compliance plans, the National Labor Relations Board, ambush elections - We've all heard about these issues, but do you know how it will effect your business? Ted Phlegar from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will discuss the Workforce Freedom Initiative at the next Workplace Issues Committee meeting on October 4th at 8 a.m. Phlegar will highlight labor and

Odyssey Logistics & Technology Expands in Charlotte; Will Add More Than 100 Jobs
Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Global lead logistics provider Odyssey Logistics & Technology Corporation (OL&T) has expanded its Charlotte operation and moved to 25,000 square feet of new office space at One LakePointe Plaza. Headquartered in Danbury, Conn, OL&T performed an extensive search in the Charlotte region before settling on LakePointe Business Park because of its central location and proximity to the airport.


Skains Named Chamber Chair for 2015
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Charleston, S.C. – The Charlotte Chamber of Commerce has selected Thomas E. Skains as second vice chairman, meaning he will lead the organization in 2015 as chairman. Skains is Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Piedmont Natural Gas. Mr. Skains joined Piedmont Natural Gas in 1995, after nearly 15 years with Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line

CMDC Belvedere Theatre Project Wins Historic Charlotte Preservation Award
Thursday, September 20, 2012
before after The Charlotte Mecklenburg Development Corporation (”CMDC”) will be honored on October 10 for its work to revitalize an important piece of the city's architectural history. CMDC and Belvedere Family Dentistry will be presented with an honorable mention at the 2012 Charlotte Preservation Awards. In September of 2011, the CMDC completed a

Green Tech Network to Meet at Chamber
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
The North Carolina Technology Association (NCTA) will host its next Green Tech Network meeting on Tuesday, September 25 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm at the Charlotte Chamber. The topic will be Technology Driving Power Efficiency. North Carolina has seen a huge increase in power consumption with the established manufacturing industry and the explosive growth of data

Newcomer's Calling Your Name!
Thursday, September 13, 2012
It is one of the chamber's hottest magazines we produce - the Charlotte Newcomer Resource Guide. Published annually, the magazine is chock full of information to help newcomers get settled in their new home town. Feature articles include “Finding Your Dream Home,” “Economy and Employment” and a Resource Directory that offers information and contact points

Actor, Comedian Jay Thomas Says Charlotte Shined During DNC
Friday, September 7, 2012
Actor, Comedian and Sirius XM Radio Host Jay Thomas Says Charlotte Shined During DNC!

Business Diversity and Inclusion at Legacy Village
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Keva Walton, the chamber's senior vice president of member engagement, toured Legacy Village at CarolinaFest during the DNC. The chamber's commitment to the city during the convention is to help share the message of our diverse and inclusive business community. He talked with representatives from InfoSense, one of Charlotte's brightest new startups, and

Mayor and Chamber Officials Meet with British Ambassador
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx and Chamber president Bob Morgan met with Great Britain's Ambassador to the U.S., Sir Peter Westmacott, Thursday afternoon at the chamber offices off S. Tryon Street. During the half hour long gathering, Foxx and Morgan made the case to the Ambassador for the possible relocation of the British Embassy from Washington, D.C. to

Outrageous Aspirations Realized
Friday, August 31, 2012
Frank Emory When I assumed the role of Charlotte Chamber Chair last November, I predicted a year of realized outrageous aspirations. We at the Chamber continue to set each goal higher than ever before, and to make this community’s advantages broadly known. Eight months later, we have already achieved many remarkable moments, and nearly all of them

McCrory Calls for New Vision for North Carolina
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Citing North Carolina’s weak high school graduation rate, high unemployment and $2.8 billion debt to the federal government for unemployment benefits, GOP gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory said Monday the state needs to rebrand for the future. “We need a new vision for North Carolina right now,” said McCrory in a speech to about 200 Charlotte Chamber

US Airways
Friday, August 24, 2012
Your travels with us today will most likely take you through one of our hub airports in Phoenix, Philadelphia, Charlotte, or through Reagan National Airport in our focus city of Washington, D.C. The majority of our customers flying with us through our hub at Charlotte Douglas International Airport are connecting to other destinations in the U.S., Canada,

Wingate University Announces Nursing Program
Thursday, August 23, 2012
MATTHEWS, NC - Wingate University announced it's adding a nursing program to its list of offerings in the field of health sciences. The announcement was made on Wednesday by Wingate president Dr. Jerry E. McGee at the University’s campus in Matthews. Nursing is expected to be one of the top jobs in demand in the future as the Baby Boomer population ages.

Why Charlotte? Why Now?
Thursday, August 23, 2012
With the spotlight of the Democratic National Convention less than two weeks away, Cassidy Turley has put together a video that showcases some of Charlotte’s selling points for potential real estate investors. The two-and-a-half minute video is titled “Why Charlotte? Why Now?” and features Steve Gassaway and Rob Cochran from Cassidy Turley, Bob Morgan of

United Kingdom Adhesives Manufacturer to Create 31 Jobs in Charlotte
Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Beardow Adams, a leading adhesives manufacturer, will locate its operations in Charlotte. The company plans to add 31 jobs and invest more than $5.1 million over the next three years. The average salary for the new jobs will be $52,984.


JPMorgan Chase Expands its Commercial Banking Team in Charlotte
Monday, August 13, 2012

JPMorgan Chase announced today that it has significantly expanded its local commercial banking team in Charlotte by adding five more employees to serve Carolina businesses and institutions with over $20 million in annual sales.


Charlotte Chamber’s English Earns Certified Chamber Executive Certification
Friday, August 10, 2012
The American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) has designated Natalie Haskins English, Senior Vice President of Public Policy of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, Certified Chamber Executive (CCE). The CCE is the only national certification for chamber professionals. The announcement was made Aug. 2 at ACCE’s annual convention in Louisville, Ky. “The

Changes at Chiquita
Thursday, August 9, 2012
This was no doubt a surprising week to many in Charlotte when one of our newest and most well known corporate headquarters announced big changes at the top along with company cuts. Chiquita's Fernando Aguirre is stepping down as CEO. The announcement came at the closing bell of the New York Stock Exchange after another rough quarter for the company's

Focus on Access to Capital
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Access to capital continues to be a struggle for many small business owners, particularly entrepreneurs. That's why the Charlotte Chamber is continuing its series on the subject in 2012 with informative sessions like our August 22 event that will focus on financing for micro-entrepreneurs and small businesses. The two hour gathering at the Federal Reserve

Heath Wants to Hear from You!
Friday, July 20, 2012
Got something on your mind about CMS? Our new superintendent, Heath Morrison, wants to hear it. What are CMS successes/challenges? What does the district do well? What are areas for improvement? He'll be hosting town hall meetings starting this month that will include a facilitated discussion and small-group conversations. Come participate and share your

Charlotte Hounds Grant Local Teen's Wish
Friday, July 20, 2012
The Charlotte Hounds of Major League Lacrosse are proud to announce a partnership with Michigan-based Rainbow Connection, a non-profit organization that helps to grant wishes to area children with life-threatening or terminal illnesses. Drew Pointe, a 17-year-old suffering with Leukemia, wished to attend the July 14 Charlotte Hounds-Denver Outlaws game and

Ethnic Minority & Women Owned Business Study
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
The Charlotte Chamber, Pride Magazine and UNC Charlotte are proud to announce the results of a joint research effort to identify a previously unmeasured yet vital sector of Mecklenburg County’s economy — ethnic, women and minority-owned businesses. Currently there are more than 8,000 such businesses within the MSA however the most detailed listing includes

Charlotte Chamber of Commerce Statement regarding Duke Energy
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Duke Energy has been a pillar of the Charlotte business community for years, and they’ve been critical in attracting new businesses to the area – both through their involvement with the Charlotte Chamber and by providing these new companies with reliable and affordable electricity. Brett Carter, Duke Energy’s North Carolina president is a current board

Carolinas HealthCare System and Edison Nation Collaborate
Friday, July 13, 2012
Carolinas HealthCare System and Edison Nation have formed Edison Nation Medical, LLC, a joint venture to stimulate innovations in healthcare delivery and improvements in patient care. This combination will provide a unique and creative platform for physicians, nurses and other caregivers, as well as patients throughout the country, to submit their best

Charlotte in 2012 Taking Applications for Food Vendors During DNC
Friday, July 13, 2012
In an effort to give local businesses as many opportunities as possible to showcase their goods and services to a national audience, the Charlotte in 2012 Convention Host Committee has launched the application process for retail merchants and food vendors during the 2012 Democratic National Convention. During CarolinaFest 2012 – the Labor Day celebration

Business Growth Summit
Thursday, July 12, 2012
The Charlotte Business Journal's Business Growth Summit is right around the corner. This year, Charlotte Chamber members can receive a 15 percent discount by simply entering BIZGROWTH as the code at checkout. This event aims to help small businesses reach their full growth and revenue potential. If you’re a small business owner or executive, don't miss this

Julius Chambers Named 2012 Citizen of the Carolinas
Thursday, July 12, 2012
The Charlotte Chamber is pleased to announce that Julius Chambers has been selected as the recipient of the 2012 Citizen of the Carolinas Award. It is the most prestigious honor given by the chamber and presented each November at the organization’s Annual Meeting. Born in rural North Carolina during the Jim Crow era, Chambers firsthand experience of

Comedian Jay Thomas to Headline Annual Meeting
Thursday, July 12, 2012
The Charlotte Chamber's 2012 Annual Meeting is sure to be one you won't soon forget. Actor/comedian/nationally syndicated radio show host Jay Thomas will be the master of ceremonies presiding over the evening's events. A familiar face and voice across the nation for years, native Charlotteans most likely remember Thomas for his stint back in the day as

Chamber Member Advances on America's Got Talent
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Even if you aren't a fan of reality TV shows there's a reason to tune in this coming week to America's Got Talent on NBC and cast a vote for a group of fellow Charlotteans. The Charlotte group Inspire the Fire, a chamber member unlike any other, has made it to the live shows and hopes to bring back the million dollars by winning it all! Ok, so here's where

NCDOR and IRS Team Up For More Small Business Seminars
Monday, July 9, 2012
The North Carolina Department of Revenue is joining forces with the IRS to help citizens understand more about the responsibilities of launching and operating a small business. NCDOR started a seminar series last fall in an effort to support small businesses and keep jobs in North Carolina. The IRS will now participate in those presentations. The seminars

Up-Close and Personal with Duke Energy's Brett Carter
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Charlotte is fortunate to be the home of some of the country's brightest minds and most successful CEOs. Men and women from a variety of industries who have demonstrated their dynamic leadership skills not only within their respective companies, but also within the business community as a whole. With so much talent available, the chamber decided to tap

Asian-Based Logistics Firm Opens Charlotte Branch
Thursday, July 5, 2012

Dimerco Express Group, a major Asian-based international third party logistics and transportation company, has opened Dimerco Express U.S.A. in Charlotte. Established in 1971, the company has continually expanded its service network on a global scale. The company’s key focus is greater China, and now it is focusing on the Charlotte area market.


Two Charlotte Companies Rank Among the Nation's Top-Grossing Black Businesses
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
(New York, NY) July 3, 2012 – Five North Carolina companies are among the nation’s top-grossing black-owned businesses as listed in BLACK ENTERPRISE magazine’s 40th annual BE100s report. The cornerstone of the publication’s June issue, this comprehensive analysis includes a total of 230 companies broken down into seven categories: industrial/service

A Capitol Hill House Call
Friday, June 29, 2012
The following column appeared in the Charlotte Business Journal on June 29, 2012: If you think Washington doesn't matter, reflect on this week alone and you'll think differently. Congress has been hard at work on many issues in advance of a summer break. The Supreme Court is issuing opinions this week on major cases on their docket. Those actions will

German Manufacturer Locates in Mecklenburg
Thursday, June 28, 2012

3F GmbH, a leading German manufacturer of adhesive tapes, coatings and laminatings, plans to set up its first U.S. production facility in western Mecklenburg County.


Forbes Ranks Charlotte in Top 20 Best Places for Business & Careers
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Forbes annual Best Places for Business & Careers list has just been released and Charlotte ranks within the Top 20 (#18)! The list ranks the top 25 cities in the U.S. and is based on the following criteria: cost of business, job growth, education ranking, and population ranking. Under the photo of Charlotte’s skyline, it reads: “Charlotte is hosting

LPL Financial Expands Technology Presence in Charlotte
Monday, June 25, 2012

LPL Financial LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of LPL Financial Holdings, Inc. (LPLA) and the nation’s largest independent broker-dealer,* announced today that it will add 75 to 100 technology jobs in Charlotte by the end of 2013 with plans for additional growth in the coming years. The company will initially hire for 50 positions by late fall and an additional 25 to 50 positions in 2013.


And This Year's Green Award Goes To ..
Thursday, June 21, 2012
2012 Wells Fargo Green Awards The 2012 Wells Fargo Green Awards are quickly approaching! Don't wait to nominate your company or one you know of for this prestigious recognition. This year two awards will be given to recognize both member companies who 1) have implemented an innovative green product, service or process; has created an environment that

Charlotte Chamber Hires New European Recruiter
Thursday, June 21, 2012

The Charlotte Chamber of Commerce announced today that it has hired Sven Gerzer as vice president of economic developmen / tEuropean sector. He will succeed Justin Hunt, who retires at the end of June after 18 years of service with the chamber.


MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. to Co-Locate Headquarters and Bring 400 Jobs to Mecklenburg
Wednesday, June 20, 2012

In a press conference today at Davidson Town Hall, N.C. Deputy Secretary Dale Carroll announced on behalf of Governor Beverly Perdue that MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. (NYSE MSM) (“MSC”) will set up a co-headquarters in Davidson and create 400 jobs in North Carolina by the end of 2017. The company’s existing headquarters is located in Melville, N.Y. MSC is one of the nation’s leading distributors of metalworking and industrial supplies. In business since 1941, MSC has set the industry standard for quality, selection and customer service as one of the leading direct marketers and distributors of more than 600,000 metalworking and industrial products.


VERMOP Salmon GmbH Chooses Charlotte for U.S. Operation
Monday, June 18, 2012

VERMOP Salmon GmbH, a privately held German manufacturer of innovative and high quality professional cleaning equipment, announced today the opening of its first U.S. subsidiary.


German Recruiting Firm Forms Alliance with Waldthausen & Associates
Friday, June 15, 2012

Hamburg-based GET AHEAD AG, a well known German recruiting firm, has established its first North American subsidiary in Charlotte.


United Technologies Corporation to place UTC Aerospace Systems headquarters in Charlotte
Wednesday, June 13, 2012

North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue announced today that United Technologies Corporation (UTC), a global provider of high-technology products and services for the aerospace and building systems industries, plans to place its combined Aerospace Systems headquarters in Charlotte following the completion of its acquisition of Goodrich Corporation.


Schiff Hardin Strategic Advisers Locates National Headquarters in Charlotte
Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Schiff Hardin LLP, one of America’s oldest law firms, announced today its choice of Charlotte as the national headquarters for Schiff Hardin Strategic Advisers, LLC, the firm’s new business advisory affiliate, and as the city for its newest law office.


Charlotte Works Acquires New Space in Charlotte
Monday, June 11, 2012

Charlotte Works, a private/public partnership that brings together Charlotte area resources to educate, empower and engage Charlotte’s workforce, has secured a new 15,000 square foot Employer Engagement Center located at 1401 West Morehead Street. The newly rebranded organization just completed the transformation of the workforce delivery system that it hopes will become a model for North Carolina.


UNC Charlotte Featured in USA Today Grad School Guide
Friday, June 8, 2012
USA Today released its first-ever Graduate School Guide which includes a full-page feature story on UNC Charlotte’s Professional Science Master’s in Health Informatics program that launches in August. It’s the only health sciences program in the country that the magazine chose to spotlight. In the article, Joshua Hertel, director of UNC Charlotte's graduate

Honoring Charlotte's Women in Business
Thursday, June 7, 2012
The Charlotte Business Journal will honor the 2012 class of Women In Business Achievement Award winners on June 21 at a special awards luncheon at the Charlotte Convention Center. The Chamber's Kati Hynes is among 26 top businesswomen in the Charlotte region who will be recognized for their accomplishments over the last year. A 12 year veteran of the

Building a Sushi Empire
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Philip Maung is one of those people who naturally captivates an audience. Soft spoken and humble, his demeanor gives no outward indication of the incredible highs and lows he's experienced in his life. It is only when he begins to speak, to share his story, that you realize he is remarkable. Born in Burma to Chinese parents, Maung didn't start out with

Chinese precision tool manufacturer opens Charlotte sales office
Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Shanghai-based TSP Precision Tooling has opened its first U.S. office in Charlotte and expects to hire five sales people in the next 24 months.  The company operates four factories in China and sales offices in Japan and Belgium.


GiftTree to open East Coast facility in Charlotte
Friday, June 1, 2012

GiftTree.com, an online retailer, has signed a lease for 112,000 square feet of space in Shopton Ridge Business Park in southwest Charlotte. The Vancouver, WA based company will operate their East Coast assembly and distribution operation in Charlotte. The Charlotte operation will be the first facility the company has opened outside of Vancouver.


Greenville, SC law firm expands into Charlotte
Thursday, May 31, 2012

Gallivan, White and Boyd, P.A. (GWB), one of the Southeast’s leading litigation and business law firms, has established a Charlotte expansion office.  The firm recently leased 5,200 sq. ft. in One Morrocroft Centre near SouthPark.  Brad Grow of Colliers International represented GWB in lease negotiations, and Marshall Williamson of Lincoln Harris represented the landlord.


Chinese-owned software firm opens U.S. office in Charlotte
Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Huatek Consulting, Inc., a global software and application development services company, has opened its first U.S. sales office in Charlotte. The company will add 10 jobs in the next 24 months.


Chinese manufacturing firm relocates to Charlotte
Tuesday, May 22, 2012

MaxTronic Technologies LLC, a Chinese-owned electronics design and manufacturing company, recently relocated to a 10,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility at 10915 Downs Road in southwest Charlotte. The company expects to double its current employee base from six to 12 in the next 24 months.


Groundbreaking Conference Highlights Importance of "Big Data"
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Hundreds of people took part in this week's Charlotte Informatics Conference. The event held on Tuesday at the Westin Uptown brought together a diverse group of leading national thinkers, visionaries, experts, and executives from business, technology and education to discuss the impact of “Big Data” and Analytics. “The ‘Big Data’ era hasbegun,” said Yi

Asian Entrepreneur Expands Creative Media Agency in Charlotte
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
PixelAtoms, LLC, a creative digital media agency, plans to double its permanent employee base in Charlotte in the next three years. The company will focus on post-production talent in the areas of 3D modeling, scripting and animation. The company works at the nexus of audio/visual excellence, combining the application and creation of innovative technology

Have You Heard About Wingate?
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Have you heard what's going on at Wingate? The University is on a positive PR roll. Last weekend, the school graduated its largest class ever with 521 students receiving their diplomas. This month, president Jerry McGee will be inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame and the college's Matthews campus is expanding at rapid speed. Oh, and did we

Asian Entrepreneur Expands Creative Media Agency in Charlotte
Tuesday, May 15, 2012

PixelAtoms, LLC, a creative digital media agency, plans to double its permanent employee base in Charlotte in the next three years. The company will focus on post-production talent in the areas of 3D modeling, scripting and animation. 


City Smackdown Challenge
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
ANSWER THE CHALLENGE! We need your help and we need it now! CNN has just announced a “City Smackdown” contest pitting Charlotte, home of the 2012 Democratic National Convention vs. Tampa, home of the 2012 Republican National Convention. If you love Charlotte, here’s your chance to stand up for your city! Tell CNN the very best thing about our city, or the

Why the Garden Parkway and Monroe Connector Matter
Thursday, May 10, 2012
That there will be an economic impact of the Garden Parkway and Monroe Connector is not debatable. We can debate exactly how many jobs might be created. We can debate where those jobs might land. We can debate whether there might be environmental impacts.The fact that road and transportation infrastructure spurs economic development is evident throughout

Marketing and Branding the Perfect Pitch
Thursday, May 10, 2012
This month’s Survive & Thrive! Breakfast was all about building your brand and was hosted by the Charlotte Chamber’s University City Chapter at Ikea. Our guest speaker was Greg Johnson, the Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of BooneOakley, a Charlotte-based advertising and digital agency with national acclaim. BooneOakley will appear on

Charlotte 49ers Join Conference USA
Friday, May 4, 2012
49ers Accept Invitation to FBS Conference In a press conference held on-campus in the Student Union, today, UNC Charlotte Chancellor Philip L. Dubois announced that the university has accepted an invitation to join Conference USA, in all sports, beginning in the 2013-14 academic year. “The invitation to join Conference USA is momentous in what it can do

Charlotte to the Capitol
Thursday, May 3, 2012
A two-day event that only comes around once a year...here is your chance to help strengthen Charlotte's relationship with Congress and the Administration. In a pivotal election year, demand for this type of access and insight is unique and we are happy to bring you this opportunity. Attendees will represent the Charlotte business community during the

A Decade Later, Wells Fargo Tournament Continues to Put Charlotte in Forefront
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Ah, don't you love the month of May?! There's that certain something in the air that makes you want to play hooky. Perhaps that's why most of Charlotte's business community hits the links for the better part of four days in May taking in all that is the Wells Fargo Championship. Of course there's tons of money to be made too, and plenty of prime networking

Peak 10 Expands Charlotte Footprint
Wednesday, April 25, 2012

David Jones, President and CEO of Peak 10, announced today that Peak 10 will expand its Charlotte presence. The Charlotte Chamber assisted Peak 10 in 2000 with their corporate headquarters relocation from Jacksonville, FL.  Since then, the company has experienced significant growth in the Charlotte market.


First Quarter Jobs Number Shows Economy is Improving
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
The beginning of 2012 is evidence that Charlotte’s economy is moving in the right direction. In fact, this is the best first quarter for investment since 2008. The latest numbers from the Employment Security Commission indicate that county employment is up 2.4 percent from this time last year. Retail spending also continues to rise, and the retail trade and

Chobani Locates Sales Headquarters in Charlotte
Monday, April 23, 2012

Chobani Greek Yogurt, America’s #1 yogurt brand, announced at the Charlotte Chamber Board of Advisors meeting that it will locate its sales headquarters in Charlotte. The 5,200 square foot office will be located in the Charlotte Plaza building in Uptown Charlotte.


The Battle to Claim Myrick's Congressional Seat
Thursday, April 19, 2012
With less than two and a half weeks to go before the May 8 primary, the 10 Republican candidates vying to fill Rep. Sue Myrick's seat in Congress made a stop at the Charlotte Chamber Thursday. During the two hour long forum sponsored by the North Carolina and Charlotte Chambers, the candidates stuck primarily to business related issues. Topics discussed

New program will help veterans land jobs in growing fields
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Hiring military veterans is a critical piece of the economic recovery, benefiting both the workers and the companies looking to capitalize on their skills, U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan and a panel of local business leaders said Monday. The presentation at the Charlotte Chamber was meant to highlight the issue and introduce a new private initiative, Veterans 4

LKQ Corporation invests in Charlotte
Friday, April 13, 2012

Chicago-based LKQ Corporation, the largest nationwide provider of aftermarket and recycled collision replacement parts for automobiles and trucks, has established a major distribution center in Charlotte.


Tune in: Three Newsmaking Events in Three Days
Thursday, April 12, 2012
If chambers of commerce had sweeps weeks like the television stations do, the week of April 16 to 20 would most certainly capture the highest numbers. The news junkie in me is outright giddy at the line-up we have planned. Just take a look ... On Monday, Senator Kay Hagan will headline Charlotte's kick-off event of the Vets 4 Ventures pilot program. The

Help Second Harvest Food Bank Win a Million Bucks
Thursday, April 12, 2012
One million dollars. That's a lot of money that could go a long way to feed the hungry right here at home and that's exactly what Wal-Mart is offering to one fortunate food bank in the country. The unusual offer is part of a unique Facebook contest aimed at raising public awareness of hunger in the United States. Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina is

Get Involved - Join the Chamber's New Public Policy Committee!
Thursday, April 12, 2012
We are excited to announce the launch of a new Public Policy Committee, Workplace Issues. The first meeting will be held on Thursday, April 19 at 10 am at our offices in the Bank of America room. The agenda will consist of a discussion on the Unemployment Insurance Fund, to be led by a representative from the NC Chamber of Commerce. The current $2.7

What's New at Wells Fargo Championship in 2012
Thursday, April 12, 2012
The excitement is already beginning to build for the 2012 Wells Fargo Championship. Held the first week of May, the tournament will mark its tenth anniversary at Quail Hollow. Executive Director, Lyn Hougham, took time out of his extremely busy schedule this week to speak before the chamber's SouthPark Chapter. Hougham told the crowd tickets are selling

Entrepreneurship, Creativity + Innovation
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Charlotte is no stranger to entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, but the Chamber is working with the business community, local government, higher education institutions and other stakeholders to cultivate a vibrant ecosystem that nurtures entrepreneurs and stimulates our creative economy. The Business Innovation & Growth Council (BIG) has

The Charlotte Chamber Endorses Knights Baseball Move Uptown
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
The Charlotte Chamber, Charlotte Center City Partners and other organizations urge City Council to bring the Charlotte Knights to Uptown Charlotte The Charlotte Chamber of Commerce is throwing its support behind the effort to move minor league baseball to the center city. On Tuesday, Charlotte Chamber President Bob Morgan and Chair Frank Emory penned an

Energy Inc. First of Two Summits to Focus on the Industry
Thursday, April 5, 2012
In case you haven't heard, Charlotte is no longer known across the globe as just a banking/financial center but we're also now seriously regarded as an energy hub. The meteoric rise of this rapidly changing sector is reflected by the nearly 200 energy companies and some 23,000 employees in Charlotte. To meet the demand for new information and

Green the Avenue Project
Thursday, April 5, 2012
The Green the Avenue pilot project is aimed at assisting five (5) restaurants located in the Central Avenue /Plaza-Midwood area to increase direct savings through energy efficiency resulting from a customized energy audit. Participating businesses receive enhanced value through financial analysis of the project’s impact on the bottom line, as well as a

Meet the Candidates
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
North Carolina’s May 8 primary election is around the corner, and this year is critical to growing the business caucus at all levels. On April 19, the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce and the North Carolina Chamber are hosting a Candidate Forum with primary candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives District 9 seat. A total of 10 Republican candidates

Charlotte Pediatric Cancer Care Attracting National Attention
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
One of the fastest growing sectors in Charlotte’s economy is the health care industry. Both Carolinas HealthCare System and Presbyterian Healthcare treat an estimated one million patients a year. Patients who come from all across the U.S. and a number of foreign countries, seeking the sophisticated treatment and state-of-the-art medical technology

Asian advisory firm opens Charlotte office
Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Dezan Shira & Associates, one of the largest business advisory firms in Asia, has established a U.S. presence by co-locating in Elliott Davis, PLLC’s Charlotte office on East Morehead Street.


Tim Belk is 2012 SouthPark Citizen of the Year
Friday, March 30, 2012
Tim Belk, Chairman and CEO of Belk Department Stores, Inc., has been selected as the 2012 SouthPark Citizen of the Year. He was honored at the SouthPark Chapter's luncheon on March 26. A native of Charlotte, Mr. Belk has seen the city's skyline change as he's worked to continue the rapid rise of his family's business. Belk is now the nation's largest

Swedish Embassy Film Crew Spotlights Charlotte
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Kamilla Kohn Radberg, Science Counselor at the Swedish Embassy's Office of Science and Innovation in Washington, DC, was in Charlotte last Friday conducting interviews with area leaders on workforce development for a film Swedish government leaders will see. Kohn Radberg met with and interviewed on camera Charlotte Chamber of Commerce President Bob Morgan,

Charlotte Named Fastest-Growing Urban Area by U.S. Census Bureau
Monday, March 26, 2012
The nation’s urban population increased by 12.1 percent from 2000 to 2010, outpacing the nation’s overall growth rate of 9.7 percent for the same period, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The Census Bureau released the new list of urban areas this week based on 2010 Census results. Urban areas — defined as densely developed residential, commercial and

Stop, Look and Listen
Thursday, March 22, 2012
All too often in today's busy working world, we get so caught up in the process of doing our jobs that we forget to stop, observe and really listen.> The Greek philsopher Epictetus said: "Nature gave us one tongue and two ears so we could hear twice as much as we speak." HIs words, though simply stated, are priceless when applied to everyday use. As a

The Garden Parkway: Driving Jobs
Friday, March 16, 2012
Let’s imagine it, an alternative to sitting in traffic on I-85. Anyone who regularly travels between Highway 321 and the Belmont area or the Charlotte airport surely knows they are about to come to a screeching halt around these exits or anywhere in between during heavy traffic periods. When the N.C. Turnpike Authority received federal approval of the

Vahterus Americas opens in Matthews, eyes U.S. manufacturing
Thursday, March 15, 2012

Finnish manufacturer Vahterus Oy has opened its first U.S. office on Siskey Parkway in Matthews.  Known as the inventor of plate-and-shell heat exchanger technology, Vahterus remains the global leader in its field and has installed over 32,000 heat exchangers around the world since its inception in 1990.


Buffalonians Bullish about Charlotte
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Newsletter editor's note: The article below was recently published in the Buffalo News. When the reporter, Jay Rey, called my office asking if I could provide him with local businesses or people who've packed their bags and headed south for a better life; I had to look no further than just down the hall. Our research director, Erin Casullo Watkins, is

Charlotte energy sector company undertakes major expansion
Friday, March 9, 2012

CoaLogix, North America’s leading provider of SCR management and catalyst regeneration technologies, has launched a major expansion of its local operations.  The Charlotte-based company, through its subsidiary SCR-Tech LLC, recently leased 211,250 sq. ft. of storage and handling space at 11701 Goodrich Drive near the Westinghouse Boulevard corridor.


BIG Announces Results of Entrepreneurial Growth Survey for Charlotte Region
Friday, March 9, 2012
Charlotte, NC (March 9, 2012) – Today, the Business Innovation & Growth Council (BIG) announced the results of the first ever BIG Entrepreneurial Growth Index, led by Terry Cox, CEO of BIG, and David Jones, CEO of Peak 10, a longtime member and advisor to BIG. The study, supported by quantitative data gathered from 94 high growth companies in the

Jerry Orr Unplugged
Friday, March 9, 2012
It is never a dull day when Charlotte Douglas International Airport Director Jerry Orr speaks before a crowd. He’s part comedian, part curmudgeon and 100 percent a pro at what he does. During his reign (and yes, he rules the place), Orr has helped to not only shape the city’s airport but also the very fabric of our local economy. At the chamber’s March 7th

Tire Intelligence opens Charlotte office, will create 30 jobs
Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Tire Intelligence LLC, a market-based services firm, has established an office in Charlotte. The firm recently leased 7,000 sq.ft. at 1910 South Boulevard and expects to hire 30 professionals before the end of the year.


CIAA is in the House
Friday, March 2, 2012
Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx, Charlotte Chamber President Bob Morgan, Johnson C. Smith University President Dr. Ron Carter and Charlotte Chamber Chair Frank Emory presented the CIAA with a $5,000 donation. The Charlotte Chamber hosted it's first-ever CIAA kickoff luncheon and celebrity panel discussion on February 29. The sold out event was a "who's

Tax Help for Small Businesses
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Good news for small business owners stressed out about the looming tax deadline. The North Carolina Department of Revenue has announced it will continue a series of seminars focused on helping people better understand how to launch and operate small companies. The series began last fall with sessions in Greensboro, Charlotte and Raleigh in an effort to

XPO Logistics to Open Operations Center Creating Over 200 Jobs
Tuesday, February 28, 2012

North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue announced today that XPO Logistics, Inc. will open a North American Operations Center in Charlotte.  XPO Logistics, a third party transportation logistics provider, is headquartered in Buchanan, Michigan. The company will create over 200 jobs in the functions of accounting and finance, human resources, IT, brokerage, and carrier procurement and operations, with an average wage of more than $56,606 annually. The company is currently in lease negotiations for Charlotte office space.


XPO Logistics to Open Operations Center Creating Over 200 Jobs
Tuesday, February 28, 2012

North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue announced today that XPO Logistics, Inc. will open a North American Operations Center in Charlotte.  XPO Logistics, a third party transportation logistics provider, is headquartered in Buchanan, Michigan. The company will create over 200 jobs in the functions of accounting and finance, human resources, IT, brokerage, and carrier procurement and operations, with an average wage of more than $56,606 annually. The company is currently in lease negotiations for Charlotte office space.


Sports Industry Worth Billions to Charlotte Region
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Sports - be it professional, collegiate or youth leagues - produce billions of dollars a year for the Charlotte region's economy and support tens of thousands of jobs. That's according to a new study released today at the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce. According to the study entitled "The Economic Impact of Sports and Sports Events on the Charlotte MSA

Hot Off the Press
Thursday, February 23, 2012

Looking to learn more about the University City area? We've got just what you need!


40 under 40
Thursday, February 23, 2012
The Charlotte Chamber will be well represented at this year's 40 Under 40 Awards. The event sponsored by the Charlotte Business Journal recognizes 40 of the region's brightest and most talented up-and-comers. Recipients are dynamic young professionals who have shaped our community in ways that have made the Charlotte region a better place to do business

Charlotte Venture Challenge
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
The Charlotte Venture Challenge business innovation competition, formerly known as Five Ventures, is accepting applications from early-stage entrepreneurial companies between now and Wednesday, February 29 at 11:59 p.m. The Charlotte Venture Challenge is the region’s premier business plan competition, organized by UNC Charlotte’s Charlotte Research

Charlotte Chamber Flash Mob
Monday, February 20, 2012
Who says the Charlotte Chamber is a bunch of "buttoned up" and out of touch folks? In honor of this year's slogan - Outrageous Aspirations - staffers sought to inspire members at last Friday's EpiCentre networking event with a flash mob of the "wobble." A special thanks to the West Charlotte High School band for helping to draw a crowd and providing the

Straight Talk with the Panthers Danny Morrison
Friday, February 17, 2012
Panthers President Danny Morrison spoke before a crowd of more than 150 people at the SouthPark Chapter's luncheon on February 14. Morrison told the group he's excited about what the future holds for the team. With Ron Rivera as head coach, Cam Newton as NFL Rookie of the Year and fans reinvigorated in 2011, Morrison expects to see the team come back even

Ask Erin
Thursday, February 16, 2012
We asked and you acted! Response to our new Ask Erin segment has been tremendous. Each week, Erin Watkins, director of research at the chamber, will select one of your questions to answer in our newsletter. The intent is to showcase the vast resources available to members and keep us abreast of your needs. This week’s question comes from Gil Crane,

Charlotte Chamber Delegation to Visit White House
Thursday, February 16, 2012
The Charlotte Chamber of Commerce will lead a delegation of local business people to the White House on February 22. The group will meet with senior Administration officials to discuss how the private sector and government can collaborate more effectively to foster greater opportunity, innovation and job creation. “This is a great opportunity for

Ramping Up Our Wow Factor
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Under the leadership of Chairman Frank Emory, 2012 is the year of Outrageous Aspirations for the Charlotte Chamber. We would like to embody the excitement, ambition and inspiration implied in this theme at our key events for the year. We are looking for partners with the expertise, creativity and resources to bring WOW elements to some of our most

Google Provides Free Websites for Mecklenburg County Businesses
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Google is proud to announce North Carolina Get Your Business Online. Google worked with local partners to design the program, which will help drive economic growth by giving North Carolina businesses the tools and resources to establish a website, find new customers, and grow their business. Get Your Business Online is an easy and fast way for North

Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright Meets with Charlotte Chamber of Commerce
Friday, February 10, 2012
Former U.S. Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright met with members of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce on February 9, 2012 to discuss ways the business community can make the most of the upcoming Democratic National Convention. Albright heads the National Democratic Institute which will host some 350 or more internatiional dignataries in Charlotte during

Tillis Talks Taxes
Thursday, February 9, 2012
The way speaker of the House Thom Tillis sees it, his work in Raleigh has only just begun. Speaking to some 200 members of the business community at this week's SouthWest Chapter luncheon, Tillis touted Republicans accomplishments in 2011 and then laid out his expectations for the new year. "In 83 legislative days we were able to take care of the budget.

Ventures for Veterans
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Keva Walton of the Charlotte Chamber talks with Dave Jones, Peak 10 CEO, and retired Army Captain now entrepreneur, William Dailey about the Ventures for Veterans program. The February 13 job fair is taking place from 9 a.m. until noon at the Embassy Suites, 5400 John Q. Hammons Dr. NW, Concord, N.C. It is free and open to any military man or woman.

Ask Erin
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Erin Watkins serves as the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce’s Research Director within Economic Development. She is responsible for compiling and analyzing statistics on the Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and Metro Region to assist in the recruitment and retention of business. Erin also develops and analyzes survey results; constructs and maintains

Noratel chooses Charlotte for U.S. headquarters
Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Noratel North America Inc, a Europe-based transformer manufacturer, has located its U.S. headquarters in Charlotte. The new location will be at 2015 Ayrsley Town Boulevard, Suite 202.


7-Eleven Acquires Sam’s Mart Stores and Will Hire 120 in Charlotte Area
Tuesday, February 7, 2012

7-Eleven, Inc. today announced that it has commenced closing on the acquisition of 55 Sam’s Mart stores from Sam’s Mart LLC.  The company has begun hiring to fill 120 store positions.  7-Eleven has made job offers to personnel working at the stores the company is acquiring.  Pay and benefits will be comparable with what they had at Sam’s Mart. 


Bold MBE Initiative Results in $60 Million Contract for Local Company
Thursday, February 2, 2012
It isn't often that you see grown men tear up, but then again, what happened at the Charlotte Chamber today was nothing short of remarkable. It has been only six months since the Charlotte Minority Economic Development Initiative (CMEDI) was launched by the chamber and Carolinas Minority Supplier Diversity Council (CMSDC), and the early results are

True Leadership
Thursday, February 2, 2012
David Darnell has the gift of being able to command any room when he is speaking. As Co-Chief Operating Officer for Bank of America, it's part of Darnell's daily routine. That's why he was just as surprised as the chamber audience he stood before on Thursday when he suddenly became choked up and at a loss for words. His momentary lack of swagger was the

Chamber Hosts Timothy Geithner
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Watch the entire Geithner discussion at the Charlotte Chamber by clicking on the video box. (Reuters) - Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner sought to calm fears that the Obama administration's bank reforms were hostile to the U.S. financial industry, saying on Wednesday the reforms were "tough where they need to be tough." "I know that people are

Launching Charlotte's Entreprenuerial Ecosystem
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Some may be surprised to know that Charlotte has a rich history of entrepreneurial success stories. In 2012, however, will be the year that Charlotte entrepreneurs, small businesses and corporations begin to actively cultivate a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem. Since the Charlotte Chamber’s inter-city visit to Seattle in June of 2011 and the Fall 2011

Bob About Town Visits Citizen Schools
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Charlotte Chamber President Bob Morgan visited Martin Luther King Middle School in the Hidden Valley community this week. He was there to spotlight the non-profit program Citizen Schools and their efforts to help underprivledged students achieve success in life. A member of the chamber, Citizen Schools partners with business and other organizationsto bring

Costa Rican Foreign Trade Minister Visits Chamber
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Costa Rica can be more than a tourist destination, said a top trade official, who is visiting Charlotte this week to learn more about the region's changing economy and promote Costa Rica as a potential business partner. Foreign Trade Minister Anabel Gonzalez, who oversees Costa Rica's international trade and investment portfolios, is spending much of her

N.C. Ranks 2nd in Incentives Enforcement
Friday, January 20, 2012
Taxpayers in North Carolina should be happy about a ranking of the state by a Washington, D.C.-based corporate-incentives watchdog group. Good Jobs First, a nonprofit, in a report released Tuesday ranked North Carolina as having the second-best corporate-incentive enforcement procedures in the country. Only Vermont ranked higher than the Tar Heel State.

Wells Fargo Economist on 2012 Forecast
Friday, January 20, 2012
All in all, this week has been a relatively good one for the big banks. Wells Fargo posted a $3.9 billion profit for the quarter on Tuesday, while two days later Bank of America reported a $1.6 billion fourth-quarter profit. Still the economic outlook for 2012 brings little enthusiasm. On the same day Wells Fargo's numbers were made public, company

U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner to Visit Chamber
Friday, January 20, 2012
U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner will visit Charlotte next Wednesday, January 25, just a day after the President gives his State of the Union Address. Geithner plans to tour Siemens Charlotte Energy Hub around lunch time before taking part in a mid-afternoon meeting at the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce with local business leaders. At Seimens, Geithner

Hiring Our Heroes
Thursday, January 19, 2012
The Charlotte Chamber is pleased to help sponsor the Hiring Our Heroes event on February 13, 2012. The one-of-a-kind FREE hiring fair will take place from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at The Embassy Suites, 5400 John Q. Hammons Drive NW, Concord, N.C. The event is for veteran job seekers, active duty military members, Guard and Reserve members and eligible spouses.

Transportation Law Alert
Thursday, January 19, 2012
If you've heard us at the chamber say it once, we've said it a million times. Transportation funding is critical to the core of economic development. That's why it will remain a top legislative priority for the Charlotte Chamber in 2012. Not just at the local and state level, but also in Washington. In fact, Congress has until March 31, to pass a new law

Changes Coming to Chamber Connect
Thursday, January 19, 2012
The chamber is pleased to announce that Chamber Connect is now available online and will be linked in the weekly newsletter at the beginning of each month. If you haven't check it out before, be sure to look for the link in the February 3 electronic newsletter. In addition to being a great resource about programs and events happening in the chamber, it is

Talking Trash
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Did you know that Mecklenburg County has reduced its landfill waste by 40 percent in the last decade? Impressive to be sure but there's still much more to be accomplished. That's where county leaders need your input and involvement. On January 26 through 28, Mecklenburg County will host a three day meeting designed to establish the county's Solid Waste

Meet the Chamber's Newest Team Members
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Pictured left to right: Julian Grimes, Felisha Fletcher and Rod Garvin If you've stopped by the chamber office in recent weeks you probably noticed some changes in the works. The space is currently undergoing a small spiffing up with fresh paint on the walls and new carpet soon to be installed. There also a few new faces on our staff. The member

Let Your Voice Be Heard
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Frustrated with frivilous laws at the state level? Fed up with red tape from Washington? The chamber's public policy team invites any and all chamber members to get involved in the 2012 Charlotte Chamber Legislative Agenda process. If you don't speak up, we aren't able to represent your needs to policy makers! Here's how it works. Each year, our public

Chiquita Classic Coming to Charlotte Area
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
The PGA TOUR's Nationwide Tour will partner with Chiquita Brands to bring the Nationwide Tour to Charlotte, N.C. for the first time in 2012 when the Chiquita Classic is played Sept. 24-30 at The Club at Longview. The announcement comes six weeks after Chiquita unveiled plans to relocate its global headquarters to Charlotte. A three-year tournament

2011 Economic Development Year in Review
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
With the first half of January almost gone, it seemed a good time to stop and reflect on the economic development successes from 2011. Sure, we now know that most economists predictions were slightly brighter than what the year would bring, but looking at the stats there's still good reason to keep our chins up as we begin 2012. Jeff Edge, senior vice

GreenWorks Gearing up for Great 2012
Thursday, January 5, 2012
When the GreenWorks Committee was formed in 2009, the idea was to provide information on environmental responsibility and sustainability for businesses while also providing connections to likeminded members of the Charlotte Chamber. Since then, the group has grown from a handful of folks sitting around a conference room table to more than 100 at this past

Charlotteans Tops in Country for Keeping Their Resolutions
Friday, December 30, 2011
Charlotte has been named one of the Top 10 Cities for Keeping New Year’s Resolutions by Livability.com, a national website that highlights more than 500 of America’s best places to live. Livability.com editors studied more than 500 cities and ranked them based on the following factors: residents' health, population growth, financial strength, recreational

Infinisource to Relocate Corporate HQ to Charlotte Creating Over 160 Jobs
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue announced today that Infinisource Holdings, Inc. will move their corporate headquarters from Coldwater, Michigan and start a new division in Charlotte. The company currently has offices in Ohio, Florida and a regional headquarters in Michigan. Infinisource Holdings, a benefits administration company, will create 162 jobs with an average wage of more than $80,000 annually and plans to invest $500,000 in its new Charlotte facility over the next five years. The company is currently in lease negotiations for Charlotte office space.

CEOs See Somber Signs for 2012
Monday, December 19, 2011
The men running Charlotte's biggest companies spoke at the Charlotte Chamber's annual economic outlook conference Monday afternoon, and said that many people don't understand what's really wrong with the U.S. economy. "The risk to the U.S. is not what people think," said Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan. "It's not the bank balance sheet...for us or our

Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Predicts Slow Growth
Monday, December 19, 2011
Photo by Charlotte Chamber: (Left to right) Henry Faison, Dan DiMicco, Chris Kearney, Jeffrey Lacker, Brian Moynihan and Bob Morgan. Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Jeffrey Lacker predicted the U.S. economy will grow 2 percent to 2.5 percent next year, with inflation likely to meet central bank goals, and urged no additional stimulus. “I am

Bobcats Offer Bonus Buy for Charlotte Chamber Members
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Looking for something to get you out of the house the day after Christmas? Come on our to Time Warner Cable Arena to cheer on the Bobcats at their home opener against the Milwaukee Bucks! As an extra incentive, we're offering chamber members the opportunity to take part in our new Arena Insider program. By participating, you will receive exclusive offers

Charlotte to D.C. High Speed Rail Gets Big Funding Boost
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today awarded $7 million to Georgia and Washington D.C. to continue work on the Southeast High-Speed Rail Corridor linking Atlanta and Charlotte, N.C. to Washington, D.C. “With America’s population set to grow by 100 million over the next 40 years, high-speed rail will play a vital role in reducing

Outrageous Aspirations Come True
Thursday, December 8, 2011
. Outrageous aspirations - that’s the Charlotte Chamber’s mantra for 2012. Two words that represent endless possibilities for those willing to think out of the box and reach for what others deem unattainable. In an effort to inspire members, the chamber sponsored a BHAG or Big Hairy Audacious Goals contest in the fall. Six Charlotteans were selected

Straight Talk from Charlotte's Top CEOs
Thursday, December 8, 2011
One of the Charlotte Chamber's most widely attended annual events, the Economic Outlook Conference, is quickly approaching. The December 19th gathering offers a rare opportunity to have the leaders of five of the nation's largest corporations plus the head of the Richmond Federal Reserve Bank altogether on one stage. Just as rare, past conferences have

DNCC Launches Statewide Community Outreach Campaign
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
The Democratic National Convention Committee today announced that it will launch a community outreach campaign that will touch all 100 North Carolina Counties, engaging citizens in the convention planning process. During the months of January and February, the DNCC Intergovernmental Affairs and Outreach team will spend time across the state talking to

Your Chance to be on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Thursday, December 1, 2011
One of television's hottest shows is coming to town! Extreme Makeover: Home Edition will feature a local family in an upcoming episode. Chamber member company Bellamy Homes, Inc. is hosting the event and looking for a few good volunteers to get involved in the build scheduled for December 11 to 17. Frank Hereda, Bellamy Homes, says they are in need of

German die manufacturer to open U.S. plant in Charlotte
Thursday, December 1, 2011
North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue announced today that Karl Marbach GmbH & Co. KG, the world’s leading manufacturer of steel rule dies for the packaging industry, will establish its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Charlotte.

King & Spalding Wins Belk Diversity Award in Charlotte
Thursday, December 1, 2011
King & Spalding has been chosen as the 2011 recipient of the Belk Innovation in Diversity Award, presented annually since 2008 by the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce to a local business organization that has demonstrated leadership and creative measures to improve workplace diversity and inclusion. The award was presented to Jeff Brown, managing partner

Harvey Gantt Named Citizen of the Carolinas 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
It was a humble yet eloquent Harvey Gantt who accepted this year's Citizen of the Carolinas Award at the chamber's Annual Meeting on November 29. Gantt told the crowd of nearly 2,000 that he was deeply moved and honored to join the list of outstanding previous recipients such as Leon and Sandra Levine, Jim Rogers, Dean Smith, Michael Jordan, Billy Graham

Be a Part of the Search for the Next CMS Superintendent
Thursday, December 1, 2011
The search for a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools superintendent has entered a new phase. Beginning next week, a series of six meetings will be held to give the public an opportunity to discuss the criteria for hiring the system's future leader. The meetings, held December 5 through 9, will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The chamber urges all of our members to

Chiquita to Relocate Global Headquarters to Charlotte
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Chiquita to Relocate Global Headquarters to Charlotte North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue announced today in a press conference at the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce that Chiquita Brands International, Inc. will move their global headquarters from Cincinnati to Charlotte. Chiquita, a Fortune 1000 company, will create more than 400 jobs with an

Chiquita to Relocate Global Headquarters to Charlotte and Create More Than 400 Jobs
Tuesday, November 29, 2011

North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue announced today in a press conference at the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce that Chiquita Brands International, Inc. will move their global headquarters from Cincinnati to Charlotte.  Chiquita, a Fortune 1000 company, will create more than 400 jobs with an average wage of over $106,000 and plans to invest $14.1 million in its new Charlotte headquarters facility over the next 5 years. The company is in lease negotiations to locate its headquarters in uptown Charlotte.


Meet Your Chamber Chapters
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Ask anyone who is a member of the Charlotte Chamber where they've seen the most value and they'll quickly tell you it's through chapter involvement. Participating in the Charlotte Chamber's Chapters is your way to influence area public policy and economic development. It's also your chance to build your network and grow your business. The information you'll

Charlotte Delegation Tours Jetion Solar Facility
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
In the six months since announcing Charlotte as its U.S. base of operations, Jetion Solar Corp. has made a name for itself in the local business community. The most recent Chinese company to open a facility here, Jetion's timing could not have been better. While the company was in search of a progressive American corporate home, Charlotte economic

NC Department of Revenue to Host Small Business Seminars
Friday, November 18, 2011
Over the next few months, the North Carolina Department of Revenue will be hosting seminars in Charlotte and Raleigh focused on helping citizens understand more about launching and operating a small business. “This seminar is a way for state government to help new businesses get started by explaining the North Carolina tax laws that affect businesses in

Charlotte Chamber Summit Spotlights Growing Energy Sector
Friday, November 18, 2011
From natural gas vehicles to small modular nuclear reactors to smart-grid technology, Charlotte showed off its up-and-coming energy industry potential and promoted its traditional power expertise Friday at the Charlotte Chamber Energy Summit. About 250 people packed into the ballroom at Ballantyne Hotel and Lodge for the event. It featured Bart Gordon, a

QC Data hires 60 in Charlotte expansion
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Engineering and data services provider QC Data has hired 60 engineers and drafting specialists in a major expansion of its Charlotte operation.

Chamber SVP Captures Dancing for a Cause Crown
Thursday, November 17, 2011
I can't remember the last time I had so much fun watching grown people dance as I did last Friday night. I must admit, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect when my husband and I were invited to attend the YMCA's inaugural charity event "Dancing for a Cause." Natalie English, the chamber's senior vice president of public policy, takes the crown in the

Bonds Issued for Monroe Connector/Bypass Toll Road
Thursday, November 10, 2011
North Carolina Transportation Secretary Gene Conti has announced that the N.C. Turnpike Authority has received unanimous approval from the N.C. Local Government Commission to sell the remainder of the bonds needed to complete financing for the Monroe Connector/Bypass project. These bond sales are scheduled for next week and will allow project construction

Hispanic Market Advantage
Thursday, November 10, 2011
If there was ever any doubt that Charlotte's population is undergoing a tremendous change look no further than the most recent census results. It found the number of Latino/Hispanics in Mecklenburg County has grown by more than 149 percent over the last 10 years. Nationwide, the Latino/Hispanic population now tops 50 million. It's a trend the chamber is

Information Session for 2012 DNC Construction & Event Services Subcontracting Announced
Thursday, November 10, 2011
The Democratic National Convention Committee, Charlotte Host Committee and the Hargrove/Rodgers Russell Hunt convention construction management and event/expo services teams today announced the first information session regarding subcontracting opportunities in construction and event services for the 2012 Democratic Convention will take place on Monday,

Revitalzing Charlotte's Northwest Corridor
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Charlotte Chamber SVP Keva Walton had an opportunity this week to sit down and talk with two of the business community's most dynamic leaders - Dr. Ron Carter of JCSU, and Kendall Alley, Wells Fargo Charlotte Regional President. Walton asked both men about their visions for revitalization of the Five Points/Beatties Ford Road Corridor. Watch his interview

Bosch Rexroth Shows New Logisitics Center
Thursday, November 3, 2011
German manufacturer has expanded Charlotte site, added 45 jobs A German manufacturer on Wednesday showed off its new logistics center in Charlotte and announced the promotion of two key local executives. Bosch Rexroth Corp. began expanding its local presence this past summer, opening a 65,000-square-foot warehouse off Westinghouse Boulevard and

Horsing Around for Annual Meeting
Thursday, November 3, 2011
No more horsing around if you haven't already signed up for this year's Annual Meeting. The theme is "Outrageous Aspirations," and the evening is sure to packed with plenty of the "wow" factor. Production of the chamber's largest yearly event has been in the works for months, and this week some interesting characters from the past were spotted taking part

Northeastern University Opens Regional Campus in Charlotte
Monday, October 31, 2011
Northeastern University, a Boston-based research university, announced today the launch of its first regional campus in Charlotte. The new location will include 14,000 square feet of offices and classrooms at the 101 independence Center building. The project will create seven new jobs.

International Media Tour Charlotte Region
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Seven journalists from four countries are in Charlotte on a two day tour organized to further promote economic development opportunities in the region. The print and television reporters visiting represent outlets including: Le Monde - Paris based daily newspaper Austria Presse Agentur -The leading newswire of Austria People's Daily - One of China's

2011 Energy Summit
Thursday, October 27, 2011
The 2011 Charlotte Chamber Energy Summit is little more than two weeks away and this year’s event promises to be even bigger and better than the inaugural summit. Over the past 12 months, the chamber has seen a sizeable increase in energy related job announcements, and efforts to grow the city’s energy sector was a hot topic during the chamber’s Inter City

Booz Allen Expands its Commercial Footprint in Charlotte
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Booz Allen Hamilton (NYSE: BAH) announced today its plans to expand its presence in Charlotte as part of its commercial growth and expansion goals.  As a leading provider of management and technology consulting services to the U.S. government in the defense, intelligence, and civil markets and to not-for-profit organizations, Booz Allen plans to leverage its strong functional reputation in the Charlotte commercial industry.

Gulfeagle Supply Doubles Charlotte Base
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Gulfeagle Supply, a Tampa-based commercial and residential roofing distributor, recently purchased 2004 Bancroft Street, a 33,000 sq. ft. facility that now houses the company’s Charlotte operations.  Located just north of Uptown near the intersection of North Graham and West 24th Streets, the building more than doubles Gulfeagle’s inside storage capacity for roofing products and also provides two acres of secured exterior storage.

Envision Charlotte
Thursday, October 20, 2011
The Charlotte business community is known for its collaborative efforts to support economic development but there is still much to be desired when it comes to the subject of sustainability. That's why the forward thinking project called Envision Charlotte was devised. Powered by Duke Energy's Smart Energy Now, the program uses digitial grid technologies to

SouthPark Signs Provide Community Identity
Thursday, October 20, 2011
The Charlotte Chamber's SouthPark Chapter celebrated a major milestone this week with the unveiling of new signs and street sign toppers designed to highlight the community. It's all part of a more than year long rebranding and public relations campaign aimed to better identify the SouthPark area. The first sign was erected at the intersection of Park and

How's Econ Dev?
Thursday, October 20, 2011
The Charlotte Chamber's Economic Development Department hosted the 2011 Third Quarter Breakfast on October 18 at the Belk Action Center. Senior vice president Jeff Edge told the crowd of about 100 people that the last several months have reflected a "mixed bag" of results. In the graphic shown below, you can see that the number of projects announced so far

Tarwater Tapped 2nd Vice Chair
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Isle of Palms, S.C. – The Charlotte Chamber of Commerce has selected Michael Tarwater as second vice chairman, meaning he will lead the organization in 2014 as chairman. Tarwater is Chief Executive Officer for Carolinas HealthCare System where he has dedicated more than 25 years to help position CHS as one of the leading healthcare systems in the

Text Polling Provides Critical Feedback
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
A new cool tool the chamber has started using at its events - text polling - is proving to be not only fun but also insightful. The method was first used during last week's Entrepreneurs Summit. There a series of questions were asked throughtout the day with partcipants simultaneously texting their responses, which were instantly displayed on large screens

Doing Business with Big Business
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
A key takeaway from the 2011 Charlotte Chamber Entrepreneurs Summit is the need to provide more opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs to connect with big businesses. In direct response to those concerns, the chamber's NorthWest Chapter in partnership with Metropolitan College is hosting a special "Doing Business with Big Business" lunch and

Office Depot Deals and Think Pink
Monday, October 10, 2011
October is here and that means Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A great way to support this cause is to purchase Sanford's Pink@Work products. Office Depot has a wide portfolio of products and a portion of the sales on every product goes to City of Hope for research, education, and treatment. If you haven't started planning and creating your holiday cards

Promoting Our Ports System
Thursday, October 6, 2011
On Wednesday, October 5, members of the chamber's economic development team and CEO Bob Morgan spent the day in Wilmington on a "field trip" of sorts to gather information about the State's Ports Authority. There they were given unique access to the facilities and provided ample opportunity to meet directly with Ports Authority executives. Below is an

Charlotte's Still a Deal for Cost of Living
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Tony Crumbley has worked in the Charlotte Chamber's research department for 35 years and while a lot of things have changed during that time, one thing has remained the same - Charlotte's ranking as among the most affordable cities for cost of living in the country. Sure the price of items has fluctuated but all things considered living here is a steal

Outrageous Aspirations for 2012
Thursday, October 6, 2011
The Charlotte Chamber's Fall Planning Retreat is shaping up to be its largest ever. So much so, the number of attendees had to be capped at 180 because there simply wasn't enough space to squeeze in any more members! It will take place October 13 & 14 at Wild Dunes Resort in Isle Of Palms, S.C. just outside Charleston. While the primary focus wil be to

Chamber CEO Honored by PRSA
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Charlotte Chamber CEO Bob Morgan has been selected as this year's recipient of the PRSA Charlotte's Pegasus Award. The honor has been given since 1992 to an individual outside of the public relations profession who has demonstrated superior knowledge and use of public relations for the betterment of the community. A nominee for the award must be a leader

ATHENA Winners Announced
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
The first annual ATHENA Awards were presented this week and two well deserving women were honored for their leadership in the workplace and in the community. Jane McIntyre, United Way of Central Carolinas, was awarded the Charlotte ATHENA Leadership Award. Jane was selected from a group of 21 impressive businesswomen. This award was established to honor

Honoring Charlotte's Women Leaders
Thursday, September 29, 2011
The Charlotte Chamber is proud to co-sponsor the 2011 Charlotte Inaugural ATHENA Leadership Award. Recognized internationally, the award is given as a way to support, honor and develop women leaders. The winners will be announced Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at the Mint Museum Uptown at Levine Center of the Arts. Master of Ceremonies for the event is Molly

iQor adds 40 bilingual jobs in Charlotte
Thursday, September 15, 2011
iQor, a global technology and services company, plans immediately to add 40 bilingual (English/Spanish) jobs in its Charlotte facility. The company operates 38 Centers of Excellence in eight countries and four continents. Currently, it employs over 1,000 employees in Charlotte and 14,000 employees worldwide.

Regus expands, adds center in north Charlotte
Monday, September 12, 2011
Regus, the world’s largest provider of flexible workplaces, has opened a new center in Perimeter Woods Business Park in north Charlotte.


Andritz Hydro Corp. Expands Headquarters in Charlotte
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Andritz Hydro Corp., one of the world’s leading providers of turbines, pumps, rehabilitation services and turnkey construction for the hydroelectric power industry, is expanding its U.S. headquarters operation in Charlotte. Over the coming year, Andritz Hydro Corp. expects to fill approximately 20 new positions.

From the Classroom to Career: Charlotte Chamber Workforce Development Summit 2011
Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Ricoh Expands Legal Document Management Services in Charlotte
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Ricoh Americas Corporation, a leading provider of digital office equipment and advanced document management solutions, today announced the opening of a new legal imaging and processing center in Charlotte, N.C. The new facility, part of the company’s comprehensive Ricoh Legal offering, will provide a full suite of document management services to the legal and corporate business communities in and around the Charlotte metropolitan area.

Democratic Convention Starts Site to Draw Vendors
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Jim Morrill jmorrill@charlotteobserver.com Democratic convention organizers broadened their outreach to Charlotte-area businesses Wednesday, launching a new vendor directory and briefing contractors interested in bidding on renovations to Time Warner Cable Arena. The goal: Help local companies get some of the millions of dollars expected

Bosch Rexroth expands footprint in Charlotte
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Bosch Rexroth Corporation, the world’s leading provider of drive, motion and control technologies for advanced manufacturing systems, has concentrated its automation technologies business in Charlotte.  The company is a member of the Bosch Group, a global supplier of technology and services with 283,500 employees and 2010 sales of 47.3 billion euros (roughly $63 billion).

RED F Marketing Selected as One of the Best in the Nation for Benefits
Monday, August 29, 2011
RED F Marketing is one of only 10 growing companies earning national acclaim for maintaining its commitment to offer employees extraordinary benefits, despite a chaotic economy. An independent judging panel of employee benefits experts named RED F Marketing as one of the 2011 winners of The Principal® 10 Best Companies for Employee Financial Security.

Charlotte Minority Economic Development Inititative Unveiled
Thursday, August 25, 2011
The Charlotte Chamber took a huge step forward in its goal to make the city the most inclusive business community in the country this week. Past Chair David Darnell announced the newly iniitiated business accelerator called Charlotte Minority Economic Development Iniitiative (CMEDI). The program pairs minority-owned business enterprises (MBEs) with

Tough Talk from NC House Speaker Tillis
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Speaker of the House Thom Tillis says he's ready to "bust down the doors" to make sure North Carolina remains a business friendly state. Tillis spoke before more than 150 members of the chamber's Board of Advisors at the Hilton Center City on Tuesday. The Republican from Huntersville outlined key victories achieved during an especially tough budget year

C-SPAN Coming to Town
Thursday, August 25, 2011
C-SPAN is visiting Charlotte for a week starting on Monday, August 29, 2011, as it features the history and literary life of the city on the cable network’s non-fiction book channel (BookTV on C-SPAN2) and history channel (American History TV on C-SPAN3. Charlotte is one of eight cities being featured in a special series called the LCV Cities Tour. That’s

Lime Energy relocates headquarters to Huntersville
Monday, August 22, 2011
Lime Energy, a leading provider of clean energy solutions, announced today the relocation of its headquarters from Chicago to Huntersville, NC. The company will consolidate IT, accounting and engineering functions along with corporate management with the move. The company anticipates that the headquarters move will be completed in October.

East Charlotte Business Owners Go One-on-One with NC DOT
Thursday, August 18, 2011
After years of meetings and discussions about the Independence Boulevard widening project, representatives from the North Carolina Department of Transportation told members of the Charlotte Chamber's East Chapter this week the work is slated to be complete in June of 2015. Neil Burleson, Charlotte region right-of-way acquistion supervisor for DOT and Robert

Workforce Development Summit: Talent Development from Classroom to Career
Thursday, August 18, 2011
The 2011 Charlotte Chamber Workforce & Labor Summit is almost here and the September 16 event is sure to be a sell out. From our local public schools to our higher education facilities, Charlotte's economic future depends on the training and preparedness we offer to the community as a whole. Entitled "Talent Development from Classroom to Career," the

Connextions Makes Good on Its Promise: Looking to Fill Hundreds of Jobs
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Just four months after announcing they would create some 1,200 jobs in the Charlotte region, Connextions, Inc. officially opened its doors on August 11, and is already busting at the seams. The technology and business services provider to the health care industry marked the occasion with tours of the new facility and a day long career fair. Many of the

Tough Talk from Health Care Industry CEOs at Chamber Summit
Thursday, August 11, 2011
The Charlotte Chamber's third annual health care summit drew a sell out crowd on August 5. More than 250 business people, most with ties to the health care industry, were in attendance. The timing couldn't have been better. The same day that Blue Cross Blue Shield announced it would have to raise rates, North Carolina BCBS CEO Brad Wilson was among the

What Will Charlotte's DNC Legacy Be?
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Talk about member value! The Charlotte Chamber's New Member Orientation and Open House on August 10 included a surprise guest speaker from Charlotte's DNC Host Committee. Torre Jessup, deputy executive director of external relations, briefed the group of about 150 people on the latest efforts to get the community engaged in preparations for the convention.

Siemens Shares Insights on Workforce Training
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Manufacturing giant Siemens is on a national press streak. In July, NBC News toured their facility and this week The Wall Street Journal met with company executives. All are interested to learn how the company has managed to add more than 400 jobs in the last year with more on the way, and they've inititated a broad range of training programs. Pam Howze,

Poll Shows Broad Public Support For Education Reform Efforts
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Results from a public opinion poll released today show that local residents largely support Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ reform initiatives, including a performance-based compensation plan for teachers that is keyed in part on students’ academic achievement, smaller class sizes in low-achievement areas, and greater management autonomy for individual

Celgard Expansion Brings More than 200 New Jobs
Monday, July 25, 2011
CONCORD,N.C. – Gov. Bev Perdue and officials from Charlotte-based Celgard LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Polypore International, Inc. announced Monday plans to expand production capacity in Concord and hire an additional 250 employees. The project was made possible in part by state grants from the Job Development Investment Grant and One North Carolina

Kiplinger's Names Charlotte #2 in U.S. 2011 Best Value Cities
Monday, July 25, 2011
It’s a banking mecca, and a wide green streak runs through it. That clinking, clanking sound in Charlotte isn’t just America’s largest bank getting richer. It’s the sound of the New South growing. “Charlotte is one of the best-kept secrets in the country,” says Mayor Anthony Foxx, “but in the very near future it’ll be one of the worst-kept.” With the

CMS Chair Previews Search for New Superintendent
Thursday, July 21, 2011
With less than a month before the new school year starts, talk of search for a new CMS superintendent has begun in earnest. Board Chairman Eric Davis told Charlotte Chamber members during the Inter City Visit to Seattle in late June that the early stages of the process have already begun. He said the interim superintendent selection was based on three

Gates Foundation Aids in Promoting CMS Reform
Monday, July 18, 2011
A paid media campaign titled “Educating Change” kicked off this week that is designed to inform Mecklenburg County residents about efforts within Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) to accelerate academic gains, close achievement gaps, increase the graduation rate, and otherwise retool to improve our public schools. The campaign will include advertising on

Positec U.S. headquarters expands, relocates retail distribution facility, adds 30 new jobs
Friday, July 15, 2011

Positec Tool Corp., a Chinese power tool manufacturer has announced that it is moving its Charlotte-based North American headquarters into a new office location at 10130 Perimeter Parkway. The firm will also relocate its retail distribution facility from Santa Fe Springs, CA to about 120,000 sq. ft of industrial space in The Park at Huntersville. The expansion will add 30 new jobs.


Mid-Year State of the Chamber
Friday, July 15, 2011
Pat Rodgers Early this year Charlotte learned that it will host the Democratic National Convention in 2012. Forbes Magazine recently ranked Charlotte as one of the “Top 10 Next Big Boom Towns.” Area Development Magazine has also ranked Charlotte in its “Top 10 Most Desirable Locations for Doing Business.” For the second year in a row, the Charlotte

Kai’s Kookies & More opens store at South End
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Kai’s Kookies & More LLC has opened its first 1,200 sq.ft. bake and coffee shop at the Crosland Center at 3905 South Blvd. The shop will create 3 new jobs and seat up to 14 people.

Time Warner Cable to place national data center in Charlotte
Monday, July 11, 2011

Time Warner Cable, Inc. (TWC) announced today its plans to build a national data center and new corporate office building in Charlotte and add new corporate positions to the company’s Charlotte campus. The project will create 225 jobs and generate a capital investment of $101 million. The average annual salary for the new jobs is $61,044.


Charlotte Ranks in Forbes' Top 25 Best Places for Business and Careers
Friday, July 8, 2011
Charlotte will be featured in another national magazine out on store shelves this week. The July 18th issue of Forbes’ highlights the publication’s annual rankings for Best Places for Business and Careers in the U.S. Charlotte came in at #22 among the nation’s top large metropolitan areas. Among the region’s selling points that are showcased: a projected

One-on-One with Jetion's CEO
Friday, July 8, 2011
It seems international interest in the Queen City continues to gain momentum. Two weeks ago, the chamber announced Chinese solar energy giant Jetion would open a North American office and manufacturing plant on Charlotte’s southwest side in July. To mark the momentous event, Jetion’s CEO, Alina Xu, flew from China to attend. Mayor Anthony Foxx, County

Another Pro Lacrosse Team Announced for Charlotte
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Charlotte, NC (July 7, 2011) – The North American Lacrosse League (NALL) announced it has awarded the league's second franchise to a Charlotte-based ownership group led by Graham D'Alvia. The team, which will play eight home games beginning in January of 2012, intends to play at the 9,600-seat Bojangles' Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. The

Charlotte Chamber V.P. of Member Engagement Graduates from Institute for Organization Management
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Cherise Walker The Institute for Organization Management, the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to announce Cherise Walker, vice president of member engagement, the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, has graduated from the program and has received the designation of IOM. Awarded to all graduates of the Institute

Charlotte Business Confidence Index Reflects Waning Optimism
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
(Charlotte, N.C.) -- The results of the third quarter Business Confidence Index survey released today show a diminished optimism for the upcoming 2011 third quarter as compared to the expectations at a similar point in time prior to the second quarter. This waning optimism is reflected in a decline in all six of the Index values, including sales

What We Learned in Seattle
Friday, July 1, 2011
Bob Morgan The Charlotte Chamber’s first Inter City Visit was to New Orleans in 1955. Since then we have visited Denver and Houston four times each and gone international on four occasions. Most recently we have visited Philadelphia, Austin, Chicago and Boston. In 2009, in response to the downturn in the economy, we visited an up-and-coming city in the

Chinese solar group sets up assembly operations in Charlotte
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Jetion Solar (US) Corp., a recently formed subsidiary of Jetion Solar China Ltd., has selected Charlotte as its U.S. base of operations. The company will create 40 jobs.

Compass Group USA Expands Headquarters
Monday, June 20, 2011

North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue announced today that Compass Group USA, a leading provider of contract food and related support services, plans to create 200 new jobs in its Charlotte corporate offices. The new jobs have an average salary of $52,500 and are the result of moving some corporate jobs from various regional headquarters. Compass Group USA is currently located in Coliseum Center off of Tyvola Road and Yorkmont Road.


DNC 2012: 'Charlotte has a story to tell'
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Promotion of Charlotte and its area businesses was the core focus of the 2012 Democratic National Convention kickoff event Tuesday hosted by the Charlotte Chamber. Chamber President Bob Morgan moderated a panel discussion at Central Piedmont Community College’s Tate Hall featuring four of the main players organizing efforts locally: Charlotte Mayor Anthony

Messer Chooses Charlotte
Monday, June 6, 2011
Messer Construction Co. announced today that they will open an office in South Charlotte at 4201 Stuart Andrew Boulevard, Suite B, in the Charlotte Commerce Center off of I-77 and Clanton Road. The company specializes in building for the healthcare, higher education and life sciences market sectors.

Madrona Specialty Foods Moves into Charlotte
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Madrona Specialty Foods announced today that they will open a North Charlotte manufacturing facility located at 6051 Lakeview Road in Lakeview Business Center.  The 88,000 square-foot facility is the company’s first East Coast manufacturing and distribution location.

Mitsubishi Nuclear Energy Systems opens engineering center in Charlotte
Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Mitsubishi Nuclear Energy Systems (MNES), a U.S. subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (MHI), announced today that it will locate its main MNES engineering center in Charlotte. The company expects to hire 135 engineers and other professionals over the next five years and make a capital investment of approximately $4.1 million in the Charlotte office.


Charlotte Adds Another Fortune 500 Company
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Eight Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in Mecklenburg County. Charlotte ranks sixth nationally in number of Fortune 500 companies headquartered within the county. These headquarters represent more than $195.3 billion in revenue for 2010.

Charlotte Chamber Named Among Top 10 Economic Development Groups in the Country Two Years in a Row
Monday, May 2, 2011

For the second year in a row, the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce has been named by Site Selection Magazine to its Top Economic Development Groups of the year.  The award was presented today during a ceremony at the Industrial Asset Management Council’s spring 2011 Professional Forum in Albuquerque, New Mexico.


Groninger USA to build new U.S. facility
Thursday, April 28, 2011

Groninger USA LLC breaks ground today for a new U.S. headquarters and manufacturing facility in southwest Charlotte’s South Point Business Park. The company is a subsidiary of Groninger & Co. GmbH of Germany, a global leader in the manufacture of filling and finishing machinery for the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries.


Connextions to create 1200 new jobs
Thursday, April 21, 2011

North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue announced today in a press conference at the Charlotte Chamber that Connextions, a healthcare exchange, technology, consulting and business process outsourcing solutions provider, plans to create more than 800 jobs in its new Charlotte facility and 400 expansion jobs in the company’s existing Concord contact center. Connextions will lease a 61,000 sf facility in Forest Park near I-77 and Arrowood Boulevard in Southwest Charlotte.


Electrolux to bring 200 More Jobs to Charlotte
Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Governor Bev Perdue announced today that Electrolux Home Products, Inc. will consolidate additional positions from locations throughout the United States to Charlotte. The company plans to create 200 jobs over the next four years with a $14 million capital investment in Charlotte. The project was made possible in part by state grants from the Job Development Investment Grant and One North Carolina programs.


CapTech Opens Charlotte Office
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
CapTech, a private IT consulting firm based in Richmond, VA., has opened an office in Uptown Charlotte. With the move, the company expects to double its local workforce to 20 employees by year end.

Extended Stay Hotels relocates HQ to Charlotte
Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Governor Bev Perdue announced today that HVM, L.L.C., manager of the Extended Stay Hotel chain, will relocate its corporate headquarters to Charlotte.The company will bring 170 jobs.


NBEO Expands Headquarters Adds National Center of Clinical Testing
Thursday, March 24, 2011

The National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO), an organization that develops, administers and scores tests for optometry certification, announced today that it will expand its headquarters and add the National Center of Clinical Testing in Optometry (NCCTO) to their Charlotte office.


New American Mortgage and Paramount Lending Merger Expected to Create 130 New Jobs in Charlotte
Thursday, March 17, 2011
CHARLOTTE, NC – (March 17, 2011) – Charlotte Chamber of Commerce President Bob Morgan announced today that Charlotte-based mortgage companies New American Mortgage and Paramount Lending have merged and expect to create more than 130 local jobs over the next three years. The new company will maintain the New American Mortgage name.

Greenspring Energy LLC expands to Charlotte, expects to add 20 jobs
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Greenspring Energy LLC, a solar energy systems and innovative energy saving products and services provider, has established a third location in Charlotte. The firm leased 2550 sq. ft. at 4324 Barringer Drive. Greenspring Energy expects to hire 20 people over the next 24 to 36 months.

Steinbauer Tuning Technologies relocates to Charlotte
Friday, March 4, 2011

Austria-based Steinbauer Tuning Technologies has moved its U.S. subsidiary from suburban Chicago to Charlotte.  Steinbauer develops and manufactures electronic modules for the vehicle after-market, including add-on systems that increase the power and fuel efficiency of diesel engines in agricultural equipment and other heavy vehicles.


Kelly Pipe Company expands to Charlotte, leases 108,000-sq.-ft. warehouse
Friday, March 4, 2011

Kelly Pipe Company, which is headquartered in Santa Fe Springs, CA, recently leased approximately 108,000 sq. ft. of warehouse and offices located at 9925 Brookford Street in Charlotte. This new location enhances Kelly’s goal to distribute carbon steel pipe as a master distributor to its wholesale customers throughout the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic region. This expansion created 5 new jobs for Mecklenburg County.


Red F owners launch Packard Place as a hub of entrepreneurship
Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Charlotte entrepreneurs Dan Roselli and Sara Garces have purchased a five-story building at 222 South Church Street that they are converting into a hub for entrepreneurism in Charlotte. Launching March 28th, Packard Place will be open for business during renovations. $3.8 million worth of LEED renovations are being done to the 90,000 square foot building christened as Packard Place and will become a “community center” for entrepreneurs.


Neutrik USA relocates to Charlotte
Friday, February 18, 2011

Neutrik USA, Inc., the leading provider of connectors for audio, video, data and industrial applications, has relocated from New Jersey to Charlotte. The company recently purchased 4115 Taggart Creek Road, a 25,500 sq. ft. facility that now houses Neutrik’s new U.S. headquarters, distribution center and training facilities. The building is located near the intersection of Billy Graham Parkway and Wilkinson Boulevard.


Combi USA, Inc. moves to Charlotte, adds 23 jobs
Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Combi USA, Inc. will relocate its U.S. headquarters and distribution center to a 52,748-sq.-ft. building at 3520 Westinghouse Blvd., Suite B in southwest Charlotte. The move will create 23 new jobs for Mecklenburg County and possibly add another 10 jobs in 3 years.


GEO Plastics to open Charlotte plant
Friday, January 21, 2011

GEO Plastics, a Los Angeles manufacturer of blow molded and injection molded parts for industry, will open an east coast production plant in Charlotte.  The company recently purchased the former Jackson Tube building at 3801 Westinghouse Commons Drive, a 57,839 sq. ft. facility located in Westlake Corporate Campus in southwest Charlotte.


Capgemini to Create 550 New Jobs in Charlotte
Thursday, January 13, 2011

North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue announced today in a press conference at the Charlotte Chamber that Capgemini, one of the world’s leading providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services, will create 550 new jobs in Charlotte over the next three years and plans to invest $4.2 million in its new Charlotte office. Watch the video: http://tinyurl.com/4be6vzk


New Health Club to Open in Duke Energy Center
Friday, January 7, 2011
Flex + Fit, a new health club concept with focus on healthy food preparation, will open in May in Charlotte’s center city. The company recently leased 10,000 sq. ft. on the ground floor of the Duke Energy Center at 550 S. Tryon Street. Don Beck of Beck Commercial Properties represented Flex + Fit in its search for space and lease negotiations. Fred Klein III represented the building owner.

RED F To Move Headquarters To Center City
Tuesday, December 21, 2010

North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue, announced today that RED F Marketing and sister companies CustomerStream and Target Point will relocate their headquarters from SouthPark to a new location at 222 South Church Street, a 90,000 square foot office building in Uptown Charlotte. The expansion will create 60 new jobs at RED F and its sister companies.


BAE Systems Shared Services Chooses Charlotte for 176 New Jobs
Thursday, December 16, 2010

North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue, announced today that BAE Systems, Inc. will create 176 new jobs over the next three years and invest $3 million in their new office. Most of the positions at the new shared services center will consist of human resources, payroll and accounting functions. The average annual wage for the new jobs will be $51,392 not including benefits although salaries will vary by job function.


German manufacturer opens facility in Charlotte
Friday, December 3, 2010

SINGLE Temperature Controls, Inc. has opened a full-scale marketing, distribution and service facility in Charlotte.  The company is a subsidiary of SINGLE Temperiertechnik GmbH of Hochdorf, Germany, Europe’s leading manufacturer of high-performance liquid control systems.


Foundation Financial Group to add 30 more local jobs
Thursday, December 2, 2010

Foundation Financial Group announced today that they will add an additional 30 jobs at their University City mortgage sales center by the end of the first quarter 2011. The company previously announced in September 50 new jobs by year’s end, bringing their new jobs total to 80. The new positions include entry-level and sales professionals, telemarketers, sales managers and licensed loan officers.


Forsite Development Chooses ICM, Inc. To Provide Gasifier Technology for ReVenture Park – 145 new jobs to be created
Thursday, December 2, 2010

Forsite Development, lead developer for ReVenture Park, today announced its selection of the biomass gasifier technology for its proposed Waste-To-Energy (WTE) project. ReVenture Park will be utilizing a gasifier designed and commercialized by ICM, Inc. of Colwich, Kansas. EISENMANN Corporation of Crystal Lake, Illinois, will provide the Wet Electrostatic Precipitator (WESP) technology for emission abatement.


Shaw’s Power Group Makes Major Jobs Announcement at Charlotte Chamber Annual Meeting
Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Charlotte, N.C. — Less than three years after establishing a nuclear power presence in uptown Charlotte, Shaw’s Power Group has announced a major global strategic partnership with Toshiba Corporation that will bring an estimated 225 new jobs to the Charlotte area. More than 80 percent of the new hires will be for engineering positions with an average salary of approximately $95,000 per year. The hiring process begins this week.


SPX to Expand and Create 180 New Jobs
Monday, November 15, 2010

North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue announced today in a press conference at the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce that SPX Corporation will create 180 new jobs in North Carolina over the next five years. SPX, a Fortune 500 company, plans to invest $70 million to expand its operations and global headquarters in Charlotte. Watch the video: http://tinyurl.com/4rxrq5f


Bohle America opens in Charlotte
Friday, October 29, 2010

Bohle America Inc., a subsidiary of Bohle AG, Germany, has opened a U.S. sales, distribution and service center in Charlotte. The Bohle Group is Europe’s leading manufacturer of tools, machines and related accessories for processing and finishing glass.


New State-of-the-Art Recycled Fuel Facility in Mecklenburg County
Friday, October 22, 2010

Forsite Development, lead developer for ReVenture Park, is teaming up with FCR Recycling on a new $30 million “Recycled Fuel” facility that will vastly improve Mecklenburg County’s recycling rates and transform non recycling recoverable waste into a fuel that can be utilized to create renewable electricity.


Saertex USA to Expand Huntersville Facility and Create 178 New Jobs
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Saertex USA has announced plans to expand its Huntersville manufacturing facility adding 178 new jobs and investing $6.5 million in new machinery and equipment.

ISIS Fund Services to launch Charlotte office
Thursday, September 30, 2010

ISIS Fund Services Ltd., a Bermuda-based hedge fund and alternative investments administrator, will launch a full service and administration subsidiary in Charlotte in January 2011.


Siemens Energy Inc. to move Nuclear Instrumentation & Control Group to Charlotte
Friday, September 24, 2010

Siemens Energy Inc. has signed a lease at Innovation Park in the University Research Park, where it will relocate its nuclear instrumentation and control group from Alpharetta, GA. The company signed a lease for 17,000 square feet and plans to expand into an additional 15,000 square feet by year end.


ABB to build $90 million plant in Huntersville, create 100 jobs
Thursday, September 9, 2010

ABB Inc. announced today that it will construct a plant in Huntersville to manufacture high-voltage and extra-high-voltage cables used to improve the efficiency of power transmission over long distances.


Foundation Financial Group Adding 50 Jobs
Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Atlanta-based Foundation Financial Group announced today that they will add 50 jobs at their University City mortgage lending center. The facility, located 10735 David Taylor Drive, in the Resource Square Business Park will add 25 full-time financial services positions this quarter and 25 next quarter.


Classic Graphics Expands Charlotte Footprint
Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Classic Graphics, a graphics communications company with facilities in Charlotte and Morrisville, is moving to 8335 IBM Drive, Innovation Park, the former IBM complex near Harris Blvd. and I-85. The company will expand their Charlotte footprint by almost 70 percent to 180,000 square feet and expects to be fully operational in their new space March 2011.


Classic Graphics Expands Charlotte Footprint
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Classic Graphics, a graphics communications company with facilities in Charlotte and Morrisville, is moving to 8335 IBM Drive, Innovation Park, the former IBM complex near Harris Blvd. and I-85. The company will expand their Charlotte footprint by almost 70 percent to 180,000 square feet and expects to be fully operational in their new space March 2011.

Sompo Japan Insurance Company of America to add 46 jobs in Charlotte
Monday, August 23, 2010

Sompo Japan Insurance Company of America, a leading provider of insurance services and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sompo Japan Insurance of Tokyo, has announced the relocation of its New York operations to Charlotte, North Carolina.


Davidson Chocolate Co. to Open in Dilworth
Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Davidson Chocolate Co., a family-owned, full service chocolate shop will open a second store in Dilworth. Located at 1235 A East Boulevard, in Kenilworth Commons, the East Blvd Harris Teeter shopping center, the company plans to open their doors the last week in August. The original Davidson Chocolate Co. is located in Davidson, NC.


Ameritrust expands, to add 70 jobs in Charlotte
Friday, June 11, 2010

Ameritrust, a Charlotte-based mortgage finance company, announced today plans to add 70 jobs during the remainder of 2010. 


Citco Fund Services Chooses Charlotte for 258 New Jobs
Thursday, June 3, 2010

North Carolina Secretary of Commerce, Keith Crisco, announced today that Citco Fund Services will create 258 new jobs over the next five years and invest $3 million in their new office which will be located in Charlotte’s center city. Citco Fund Services, part of the Citco Group of Companies, is the world’s largest hedge fund administrator. With 16 existing strategic centers globally, the new Charlotte office will mark the company’s most recent growth.


You should get credit for your green efforts
Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Although your organization is reducing its environmental footprint, you may not be getting credit for your sustainability efforts. You don’t want to “greenwash,” but you should be recognized for your achievements. Use the checklist below to identify tactics to help you communicate your environmental journey.


American Red Cross to Create 440 New Jobs in Charlotte
Wednesday, May 26, 2010

The American Red Cross, a charitable humanitarian aid organization that supplies nearly half of the nation's blood, announced today that it will create 440 jobs in their new Charlotte telerecruitment center.  These positions will work with donors to make and confirm appointments for blood and blood product donation.  Each year, the Red Cross collects 6.5 million units of blood from 4 million donors nationwide, and these collections result in 9.5 million blood products.


Yu Consulting Engineers Expands to Charlotte
Monday, May 24, 2010

HC Yu and Associates (HCYU), a professional consulting engineering corporation headquartered in Richmond, VA, has opened a Charlotte office in the University City area.


Chamber Among Top 10 Economic Development Groups in the Country
Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Colorado Springs, Colo. —  The Charlotte Chamber of Commerce was honored by Site Selection Magazine today as one of the Top 10 Economic Development Groups in the nation. Senior Vice President of Economic Development Jeff Edge accepted the award this afternoon at the Industrial Asset Management Council’s Spring 2010 Professional Forum at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado.


Anderson consolidates U.S. headquarters, to add 25 jobs in Charlotte
Friday, April 16, 2010

Anderson Group America, a member of Taiwan’s Anderson Group, will relocate U.S. corporate headquarters from Cordage Street to a 48,760 sq.ft building at 10710 Southern Loop Boulevard in southwest Charlotte. The company will add 25 jobs within the coming year.


Czech hospital bed maker Linet selects Charlotte
Monday, April 12, 2010

Linet, a global leader in the design and manufacture of high-tech hospital beds, has opened U.S. headquarters, marketing, sales and technical service operations in Charlotte.


Todaytec to relocate North American production facility, add 50 jobs in Charlotte
Friday, April 9, 2010

Todaytec LLC, a Chinese manufacturer, will relocate its thermal transfer bar code ribbon converting and distribution facility to Charlotte. Due to a rapid increase in demand from OEM and channel partners throughtout the USA, Canada and Mexico, the company expects to double its facility and hire up to 50 employees within three years. 


Clariant adds 50 jobs at North American headquarters in Charlotte
Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Specialty chemicals manufacturer Clariant has announced that its Pigments and Additives business units will move from Rhode Island to Charlotte. As a result 50 new full-time positions will be added at the company’s North American headquarters on 4000 Monroe Road.


Hewitt Associates to add 463 jobs in Charlotte
Wednesday, March 31, 2010

North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue announced today that Hewitt Associates will expand its Charlotte operations, adding 463 new jobs at an average salary of $43,600.


ProFlowers Opens Distribution Center in Charlotte
Thursday, March 25, 2010

ProFlowers, a leading online merchant of flowers, has opened their new Charlotte distribution center. The 12-year-old company provides over 150 varieties of fresh cut flowers to millions of satisfied customers throughout the United States.


Siemens Energy to Build New Gas Turbine Production Facility in Charlotte
Thursday, March 11, 2010

North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue announced today that Siemens Energy, Inc. will expand its Charlotte operations establishing a Gas Turbine Center on its Westinghouse Boulevard campus.


Fifth Third Bank Moving North Carolina Headquarters to Uptown Charlotte
Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Fifth Third Bank announced today that it is moving its North Carolina headquarters to 201 North Tryon Street in Uptown Charlotte in June of this year. After the move, the building will be named the “Fifth Third Center.” Watch the video: http://tinyurl.com/4zr2w5g


National discount food store opens Charlotte location
Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Save-A-Lot Food Stores, the nation’s leading hard discount grocery chain, has opened a Charlotte location that will add 25 new jobs.


Turman Commercial Painters Expands East Coast Hub
Friday, February 26, 2010

Turman Commercial Painters, the West Coast’s largest commercial painting contractor, announced today plans to expand East Coast hub operations in Charlotte.


There's No Meeting Like a Green Wolf Meeting!
Monday, February 8, 2010

Great Wolf Lodge® is proud to be the first – and only – hotel chain to have all U.S. properties Green Seal™ certified. This means that each resort had to undergo extensive audits of operations and processes covering nearly every aspect of our business, including our hotel operations as well as our conference and meeting spaces.


Facility Strategies Group, LLC
Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Facility Strategies Group, LLC is a leader in working with state and federal governments, corporations, facilities owners and managers, and industry stakeholders to integrate energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainability into building systems and business processes.


Boatsman Gillmore, PLLC
Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Boatsman Gillmore practices green accounting.


Design Visionaries opens Charlotte office
Monday, January 25, 2010

Design Visionaries Inc., a Silicon Valley based design and forensic engineering firm, has opened an office in Charlotte. The office will allow Design Visionaries to better serve its clients in Charlotte and surrounding region and function as a hub for southeast expansion.


Get Up To $1.80 per Sq. Ft. from the Government for Energy-Efficient Retrofits
Monday, January 25, 2010

Did you know that you may be eligible for a substantial tax deduction of up to $1.80 per square foot for improving the energy efficiency of your building or designing energy efficiency into your new building? If you’re already thinking of a retrofit project, this can significantly improve your Return on Investment!


Tribble Creative Group Best Practices for Greening
Friday, January 22, 2010

What the Tribble Creative Group does to Go Green.


Gai Consultants
Thursday, January 21, 2010

Rob Mcelfresh of Gai Consultants


Celgard To Expand and Build New Manufacturing Facility
Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Governor Beverly Perdue announced today in a Charlotte press conference that Celgard, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Polypore International, Inc. (NYSE: PPO), and one of the largest suppliers to the lithium battery industry, will add 289 jobs and invest a total of $91 million in expanded and new infrastructure in Mecklenburg and Cabarrus counties over the next five years.


Southside Constructors, Inc. Relocates Corporate Headquarters
Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Southside Constructors, Inc. (SCI) is pleased to announce the relocation of its corporate headquarters from Belmont to Charlotte, bringing 44 jobs to the area. Jobs include civil engineers, construction managers, accountants, administrative, marketing and real estate professionals.


Husqvarna finalizes HQ plans for Charlotte, adds 160 jobs
Thursday, January 7, 2010

North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue announced today that Husqvarna will consolidate its North American corporate headquarters in Charlotte. 


Zenta plans Charlotte expansion, to add 1,000 jobs
Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Governor Beverly Perdue announced today that Zenta will expand its presence in Charlotte with plans to add 1,000 jobs over the next five years.


Electrolux to consolidate North American headquarters in Charlotte, bring 738 jobs
Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Governor Beverly Perdue announced today that Electrolux will consolidate its North American corporate headquarters in Charlotte.  The consolidation will encompass most Electrolux U.S. entities.


Geosyntec Consultants Opens Charlotte Office
Monday, November 16, 2009

Geosyntec Consultants, an Atlanta-based consulting and engineering firm specializing in environmental issues, natural resources and civil infrastructure, has opened an office in downtown Charlotte at 401 North Tryon Street.


Critical Systems Chooses Charlotte
Monday, November 2, 2009

Critical Systems, a full service life safety and security company has opened a sales and service office in the Charlotte Commerce Center located at 4201 - J Stuart Andrew Blvd. The company provides inspections and service for fire alarm systems and installation of security systems for commercial buildings.


SouthEnd Home Improvement Opens in Charlotte
Friday, October 30, 2009

SouthEnd Home Improvement, a sister company of SouthEnd Exteriors, has opened an office at 101 Freeland Lane in Historic SouthEnd. The company specializes in home renovations and additions, remodeling, screened porches, decks, siding and windows in addition to many other types of home remodeling and improvement.


Turman Commercial Painters picks Charlotte for East Coast center
Thursday, October 22, 2009

Turman Commercial Painters, the West Coast’s largest commercial painting contractor, has established an office in Charlotte to expand its coverage of the Eastern United States.  The company recently leased flex space in Fordham Park on Griffith Road near the Tyvola Road exit of I-77.


Premier Inc. to relocate HQ to Charlotte, add 300 jobs
Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Governor Beverly Perdue announced today that Premier Inc. will relocate its corporate headquarters from San Diego to Charlotte.  Premier, the largest healthcare alliance in the country, currently employs 750 in Charlotte and encompasses a network of more than 2,200 member hospitals.


Argix Direct Opens Distribution Center in Charlotte
Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Argix Direct, a logistics solution and services provider to the retail industry, has opened a new Charlotte distribution center at 1805 Center Park Drive. The privately held company has over 25 years of retail service.


U.S. Bancorp to open downtown Charlotte trading floor, expand operations
Thursday, September 24, 2009

Minneapolis-based U.S. Bancorp has leased an additional 10,000 sq. ft. in downtown Charlotte’s Hearst Tower and will build a bond trading floor for its new high-grade, fixed income business.


CoaLogix undertakes major Charlotte expansion
Friday, September 4, 2009

Governor Beverly Perdue announced today that CoaLogix Inc., through its subsidiary SCR-Tech LLC, will establish a second manufacturing and R+D facility in Charlotte. CoaLogix is a leading provider of selective catalytic reduction (SCR) services and catalyst regeneration, a technology used by power generation facilities to reduce nitrous oxide emissions.


Teknek USA Chooses Charlotte
Thursday, September 3, 2009

Teknek, a world leader in the manufacture of equipment and solutions for the contact sheet and web cleaning sectors, has chosen Charlotte for its U.S. headquarters and operations base. 


Husqvarna picks Charlotte for North and Latin America Headquarters
Friday, August 28, 2009

Husqvarna Group, the world’s largest manufacturer of chain saws, lawn mowers and gas powered trimmers and blowers, has chosen Charlotte as headquarters for North and Latin America Sales and Service.


NouvEON Expands Energy and Utilities Practice
Friday, August 28, 2009

NouvEON has expanded its national energy and utility practice for delivering integrated and innovative solutions, which enable energy and utilities companies to implement change more efficiently. NouvEON is expanding its practice to continue working with a broad spectrum of energy and utility clients, solving complex business challenges they face in this growing and increasingly complex business landscape.


Priism Group Expands to Charlotte
Thursday, August 27, 2009

Priism Group, a provider of warehouse and complete supply chain services, has expanded operations to Charlotte.


Biotage Relocates U.S. Headquarters to Charlotte
Friday, August 21, 2009

Biotage, a Swedish manufacturer of instruments and consumables used in life science research, is relocating its U.S. headquarters from Charlottesville, VA to Charlotte.


AGL Networks Enters Charlotte Market
Thursday, August 20, 2009

AGL Networks, a dark fiber network provider, has entered the Charlotte market with a new 92-mile backbone network scheduled for completion in December. AGL Networks provides last-mile fiber connectivity between telecommunications service providers and business customers. The company is a division of AGL Resources, an Atlanta-based energy services company.


GAI Consultants Opens Charlotte Office to Serve the Carolinas
Monday, August 17, 2009

GAI Consultants has opened a Charlotte office to bring its diversified engineering services to the Carolinas and surrounding states. The new office, which supplements GAI’s southeastern region, will initially focus on environmental and energy projects. GAI will also offer specialized capabilities in sustainability and greenhouse gas consulting services.


Zenta expands in Charlotte, adds 500 jobs
Friday, August 14, 2009

Zenta, a world-class knowledge and business outsourcing company, has expanded to a new location in Charlotte and expects to hire 500 employees by the end of 2009. (Today’s Charlotte Business Journal print issue refers to 400 new positions. Zenta revised its hiring projections after the press deadline.)


McVeigh & Mangum Engineering expands to Charlotte
Thursday, July 23, 2009

McVeigh & Mangum Engineering, Inc., a leading provider of architectural engineering services, has expanded its southeast regional coverage to include a presence in Charlotte. The firm has 18 years of experience offering Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Fire Protection, Technology, LEED and Commissioning design services to the Architecture/Engineer/Contractor communities. 


NaviSite Opens Charlotte Data Center
Tuesday, July 21, 2009

NaviSite, a leading provider of cloud enabled enterprise hosting and application management services, has added a 16th data center to its US and UK network. The Charlotte data center, located a few miles from Charlotte Douglas International Airport, will serve new and existing customers in the southeastern U.S.


Imperial Security Services Chooses Charlotte, hires 35
Friday, July 17, 2009

Imperial Security Services, Inc. has created an expansion office in Charlotte, and added 35 employees.


Tolt Service Group moves headquarters to Charlotte
Friday, June 26, 2009

Tolt Service Group, a leading provider of managed services for IT equipment, has relocated its corporate headquarters from Tempe, Arizona to Charlotte. The move follows Tolt's decision in 2007 to establish a regional repair and distribution center in NorthPark off Reames Road between exits 16 and 18 on I-77 North.


SBT Partners Opens Charlotte Office
Thursday, June 25, 2009

SBT Partners, a managed services integrator, has opened a south Charlotte office. The company works with small business owners to help them plan their information technology growth through outsourced services, avoiding large capital investments that small companies can find difficult to handle.


Ballantyne Resort Green Initiatives
Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Ballantyne Resort Green Initiatives


The U.S. National Whitewater Center
Tuesday, June 23, 2009

The U.S. National Whitewater Center


Teupen Maschinenbau GmbH of Germany opens North American headquarters
Friday, June 19, 2009

Teupen Maschinenbau GmbH of Germany has selected Charlotte for its North American headquarters, service and spare parts operations. Newly formed Teupen USA, Inc. recently leased a 10,000 sq. ft. industrial building at 10701 Southern Loop Boulevard in southwest Charlotte. The company will launch operations with 10 employees and expects headcount to grow to 20 in the next 18 to 24 months.


NACA to create 1,000 jobs in east Charlotte
Thursday, June 11, 2009

Governor Beverly Perdue announced today that the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (NACA) will create 1,014 jobs in east Charlotte. NACA, a national nonprofit home ownership advocate, will immediately hire 550 mortgage loan counselors to expand its Home Save and Purchase operations. The remainder of announced jobs will be created over five years.


Albert’s Organics Opens Distribution Center in Charlotte
Friday, May 29, 2009

Albert’s Organics, a division of United Natural Foods, will open theirnew Charlotte distribution center in mid September. The 27-year-oldcompany is the largest certified organic distribution center of freshproduce in the U.S.


Diagnostic Devices to Add 100 Jobs
Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Diagnostic Devices, Inc., a Charlotte-based medical device company, will add 100 jobs within the next two years. Since 2006, the company has grown from just a few employees to 50. DDI has also experienced rapid revenue growth from $2 million in 2006 to a projected $30 million in 2009.


Siemens Energy Chooses Charlotte
Thursday, May 14, 2009

At a press conference today in Charlotte, NC, Governor Beverly Perdue announced that Siemens Energy Inc., an international supplier of a complete spectrum of products, services and solutions for the generation, transmission and distribution of power, will create 226 new jobs and invest $50 million to expand its Charlotte operations over the next five years.


Toshiba America Nuclear Energy Opens National Project Management and Engineering Center in Charlotte
Tuesday, April 28, 2009

During a press conference today in Charlotte, N.C., Secretary of Commerce, Keith Crisco, announced that Toshiba America Nuclear Energy Corporation, a new U.S. subsidiary of Toshiba established in January 2008, in Falls Church, V.A. will create 194 jobs in Charlotte over the next five years. The newly-formed national Project Management and Engineering Center in Charlotte will function as a base for Toshiba’s nuclear power business in the U.S. The company projects a capital investment of $2.8 million in the Charlotte office.


Home Grown Company Grows Green
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Environmental Services of Charlotte has purchased 1000 Louis Rose Place, and will redevelop the entire two-story, 70,000 square foot structure to LEED Platinum standards.  Among other features, the retrofit will include solar panels for electricity and sophisticated monitors that provide a real time snapshot of the building’s energy performance.

Huber Technology Expands North American Headquarters
Friday, April 17, 2009

Huber Technology, Inc., a leading provider of wastewater treatment and filtration equipment, has expanded its U.S. headquarters, engineering and service operations.  The company recently leased an additional 10,200 sq. ft. of flex space in NorthCross Business Campus, Huntersville.  The transaction more than triples Huber’s footprint in the park and accommodates growing demand for warehouse space and project management offices.


UBS Opens Charlotte Advisory Center
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Swiss financial services giant UBS has opened a Charlotte center for advising “emerging affluent” customers with investment account balances under $250,000. The center currently employs 30 and expects to hire additional advisors throughout 2009.

GMAC Financial Services Adds 200 Jobs to Charlotte Corporate Center
Friday, March 20, 2009

Governor Beverly Perdue announced today in a Charlotte press conference that GMAC Financial Services, a bank holding company, will add 200 jobs over the next two years to its Charlotte corporate center.  The company projects a capital investment of $16.4 million in the Charlotte office.


Software and Service Firm Expands Charlotte Operations
Friday, February 20, 2009
TPM, a Greenville-based provider of specialty software, printing equipment and support services for architects, engineers, contractors and graphics artists, has expanded its Charlotte operations.

Online Marketing Firm Expands into Own Building
Monday, February 9, 2009
Interactive marketing agency WebsiteBiz has moved into its own newly renovated two-story, 5,000 square foot office building at 1713 Cleveland Avenue in Charlotte’s Dilworth neighborhood.

Charlotte plastic injection molder Bull Engineered Products expands
Friday, February 6, 2009

Bull Engineered Products, a Charlotte-based industrial designer and plastic injection molder, has expanded its production footprint in southwest Charlotte. The company partners with a growing number of OEMs to design, manufacture and assemble high precision parts for the automotive, medical, industrial and sporting goods industries.


Anytime Fitness announces New Franchises in Charlotte
Friday, January 16, 2009
Anytime Fitness, one of America's fastest growing fitness center franchises, has added three new Charlotte locations and plans to open five more soon in the Charlotte area. Anytime Fitness operates 1,500 franchises nationwide and another 500 outside the U.S.

Internet security firm SmoothWall Ltd. selects Charlotte for U.S. headquarters
Monday, January 12, 2009

SmoothWall Ltd., a UK-based internet security firm, has opened its US headquarters in Charlotte. The company recently leased space in SouthPark executive suites operated by Regus and now has two full-time employees.


DesignLine International opens hybrid bus plant in Charlotte
Friday, December 19, 2008
Charlotte-based DesignLine International has opened its first U.S. hybrid bus manufacturing plant at 2309 Nevada Boulevard in southwest Charlotte.

PFS Framing Systems Opens 226,000 Square Foot Plant in Charlotte
Friday, December 5, 2008
PFS Framing Systems, a manufacturer of roof trusses, wall systems and other framing components for the residential housing market, has opened a manufacturing plant in Charlotte.  

Hardwood Floor Manufacturer Relocates Headquarters
Friday, November 14, 2008
Greyne Custom Wood Co. has purchased a facility at 8520 Crown Crescent Drive and will begin operations there in mid-December.

Para Ordnance Relocates Headquarters to Charlotte
Friday, November 7, 2008
Para Ordnance, a manufacturer of high-quality firearms previously of Toronto, Canada, is moving its headquarters to Charlotte.  The company has leased a new facility in Pineville and it will be moving all manufacturing operations to this location by May 31, 2009.

Westinghouse Opens Office in Charlotte
Friday, November 7, 2008
CHARLOTTE, NC – Westinghouse Electric, a Toshiba Group Company, is opening a new office in southwest Charlotte in Whitehall Corporate Center. The company has leased 24,000 square feet at 3545 Whitehall Park Drive, and the office is scheduled to open in February 2009.

MIAS Inc. buys land, announces U.S. manufacturing facility
Friday, October 31, 2008
MIAS Inc., the U.S. arm of a leading German materials handling systems manufacturer, recently purchased land in southwest Charlotte and plans by the end of 2009 to build its first North American manufacturing facility.

German Mold Manufacturer Announces New Charlotte Plant
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Pfaff Molds L.P. has begun construction of a new manufacturing plant in southwest Charlotte.  The 37,000 sq. ft., $5 million facility on Westhall Drive will more than triple the company’s local footprint and is scheduled for completion in the spring of 2009.

BWGS Announces Distribution Center to open in Charlotte
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Worm’s Way, doing business as BWGS, an earth friendly gardening supply company, has announced they will open a wholesale distribution operation in Charlotte.

blynk organic opens in Uptown Charlotte
Friday, October 10, 2008
blynk organic, a breakfast, lunch and catering business that specializes in organic foods to serve the business community, opened its doors this week in the lobby of 200 South Tryon Street.

PCL Expands into to Charlotte
Friday, September 26, 2008
PCL Construction Services, Inc., a general contractor, construction manager and design builder, is opening a new office in Charlotte.

Virtual Image Technology Relocates to Charlotte
Friday, September 5, 2008
Virtual Image Technology (www.vimagetech.com), a provider of document management solutions, recently relocated its headquarters and operations base from Lancaster County, South Carolina to Charlotte.

Fluor Corporation’s Power Group to Add 100 Jobs in Charlotte
Friday, August 22, 2008
Fluor Corporation’s Power Group, a world leader in engineering services for power generation facilities, continues to expand its Charlotte footprint and expects to fill an additional 100 engineering positions within the next six months.

The Q Companies Expand in Charlotte
Friday, August 22, 2008
CHARLOTTE, NC – The Q Delivery Inc., a leading provider of same-day delivery services has launched two new sister companies, prompting a relocation to a new headquarters/command center located in southwest Charlotte.  The company was formerly known as CitySprint Carolinas and has an eye on future growth and operations in Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Raleigh and Wilmington.

Bounce U opens Charlotte location
Friday, August 8, 2008
BounceU, a company that hosts private events for children in stadium settings filled with large inflatable structures, will hold their grand opening on Saturday.

Cefla America Chooses Huntersville for North American Headquarters
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Cefla America, a member of Italy’s Cefla Group, will establish its North American headquarters in Huntersville.  Cefla plans to invest nearly $16 million and employ 90 in a 120,000 sq. ft. building to be erected on one of two Huntersville sites now under final consideration.

US Airways’ Association of Flight Attendants
Thursday, July 24, 2008
US Airways’ Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA) has chosen Charlotte as the location for the headquarters of the Master Executive Council and Field Office.

Doosan Infracore International
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Doosan Infracore International, a wholly owned subsidiary of Doosan Infracore of South Korea, has established its global headquarters in Charlotte.

Bunker Automation/All Tech Engineering
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
All Tech Engineering, a custom machinery/equipment turnkey supplier from Michigan, will open Bunker Automation in a Charlotte facility in July.

Sencera International Expansion
Monday, July 7, 2008
Sencera to Build 38 Megawatt Solar Module Factory adding 65 Jobs in Charlotte.

Welspun USA Opens Distribution Center in Charlotte
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Welspun USA is relocating operations of two distribution centers to Charlotte.

Yodle, Inc. Expanding in Charlotte
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Yodle, Inc., an online advertising and leads generation firm, has more than quadrupled the size of its national sales center in Charlotte.

@Work Personnel Services Opens in Charlotte
Monday, June 9, 2008
@Work Personnel Services, a full service staffing supplier, has opened its first franchise in Charlotte.

A.T.D. Computer Solutions Expands
Monday, June 2, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 29, 2008 A.T.D. Computer Solutions Expands to New Location in Metromont Industrial Park A.T.D Computer Solutions, a leading provider of customized computers, security systems and entertainment systems recently purchased a 30,000 sq. ft. office building in Metromont Industrial Park. The new facility's 10,000 sq. ft display

IBM Announces Charlotte Mortgage Processing Center
Thursday, May 1, 2008
IBM Lender Business Process Services, Inc. (IBM LBPS) will create 600 new jobs over four years. In addition to direct processing and fulfillment functions, the center will encompass a Mortgage Academy for training newly hired associates.

iVerify Expands, Launches New Video Monitoring Center
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
iVerify.US Inc. of Charlotte, a leading provider of state-of-the-art video monitoring services, announced a major expansion.

LESER Opens Charlotte Distribution Center with Assembly and Testing Facility
Tuesday, March 25, 2008

LESER LLC has opened a 7,500 square foot distribution center with assembly and testing facilities in Texland Commerce Center in southwest Charlotte.


Maersk Opens Charlotte Regional Office and Announces New Jobs
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Last month Maersk Line announced that their customer service centers would be consolidated in Charlotte.  

Polypore Expands Charlotte Celgard Facility
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Polypore International, Inc., is expanding its Celgard, LLC battery separator facility.

Tessera Technologies Expanding in Charlotte
Monday, March 17, 2008
Tessera Technologies Inc., a leading provider of micro-electronics technology, will expand in Mecklenburg County.

SPEED Channel Expands Charlotte Headquarters
Friday, March 14, 2008
SPEED Channel, Inc., an international motorsports and automotive multimedia company, will relocate and expand its Charlotte headquarters.

Swiss Manufacturer Establishes Charlotte Subsidiary
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
simatec ag, a Swiss manufacturer of single point lubrication dispensers and tools for roller bearing installation, has opened a sales and technical support subsidiary in Charlotte. 

groninger relocates to Charlotte
Friday, February 15, 2008
groninger USA L.L.C., one of the world's top manufacturers of high-precision filling machines for the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, has relocated U.S. operations from New Jersey to Charlotte.

Maersk Line Relocates Service Center
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Maersk Line has announced plans for regional consolidation of their North American customer service organization.

Lake Architectural Expands in Charlotte
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Lake Architectural Expanding in South End

SERC Company Headquarters Relocates
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
SERC has relocated their headquarters from Birmingham to Charlotte's Coliseum Centre.

Microban to Build New Headquarters in Huntersville
Friday, October 19, 2007
Microban International Ltd. will expand its facility in Huntersville, creating 45 jobs and investing $8 million over the next three years.

ALSCO Doubles Size of Charlotte Operation
Friday, October 19, 2007
ALSCO, a supplier of textile services including processing of linens, uniforms and clean room garments, will be expanding into a facility on Dwight Evans Road. 

Vaco LLC Expands Charlotte Office
Monday, October 8, 2007
Vaco LLC, provider of high quality, senior-level financial and accounting professionals on a project and consulting and permanent placement basis, has announced they have moved their Charlotte office to The Addison Building. 

Shaw Group Expanding in Charlotte
Friday, October 5, 2007
The Shaw Group Inc. will add 600 to 1,000 jobs to its power group office uptown, making Charlotte the headquarters for that operation.

Ground Broken on New FBI Charlotte Field Office
Friday, September 28, 2007
The U.S. General Services Administration and Higgins Development Partners, a Chicago based developer, broke ground on a new FBI Charlotte Field Office in southwest Charlotte.

Hilldrup Expands Charlotte Operation
Monday, September 24, 2007

Hilldrup Companies, a major provider of moving and storage services, recently completed a new 40,000 square foot, climate and humidity controlled warehouse in Charlotte. 


Day & Zimmermann Expands Engineering & Field Services Division to Charlotte, N.C.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Company's Engineering & Field Services division opens a location in Charlotte, N.C., to continue unprecedented growth in the Southeast region while diversifying their talent pool

American Circuits Expands to Include SMT Assembly at Second Location
Wednesday, September 5, 2007

American Circuits Inc., manufacturer of printed circuit boards for clients across the country, has announced they will set up a new SMT (Surface Mount Technology) manufacturing line in 12,400sf of space at 3525 Latrobe Drive.


Defense Venture Group Relocates Corporate Headquarters
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Defense Venture Group, a southern California holding company for ArmorLine Corporation and Indigen Armor, Inc., has chosen Charlotte as its corporate headquarters.  The relocation brings all three companies together in one East Coast location, putting them closer to Washington, DC, military and defense hubs and key customers

Australian Consulting Firm Opens Downtown Charlotte Office
Monday, August 27, 2007
Australia-based GHD Consulting, a major provider of infrastructure and asset management services, has opened a downtown Charlotte office.  The company recently leased 2,266 square feet at 222 S. Church Street and currently employs five technical experts.  Local staff is expected to grow to as many as twelve by year end.

Architectural Cast Stone Manufacturer and Medical Device Company
Monday, August 27, 2007
In a unique business model, Fountainhead Stoneworks and Intelligent Implant Systems will co-locate in an 8,600-square-foot building beginning September 2007 to take advantage of the crossover in equipment and personnel between the two companies.

MIAS Establishes U.S. Operation in Charlotte
Monday, August 20, 2007
MIAS GmbH, a German designer and manufacturer of transportation, load handling and materials handling systems, has opened its first U.S. sales and technical service operation in Charlotte. 

Media Evolved forms New JV in Charlotte, Expands Operations
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Media Evolved, LLC, a Charlotte-based replicator of CDs and DVDs, has formed a joint venture with Americ Disc of Canada.

ZARGES enters U.S. market in Charlotte
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
ZARGES, Europe's largest manufacturer of aluminum cases and containers, has established its United States headquarters in Charlotte.

Major, Lindsey & Africa
Monday, August 6, 2007
Major, Lindsey & Africa the world's largest legal search firm with 21 offices worldwide, is opening a Charlotte office.

Kyphon Inc, Locates Service Center in Huntersville
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Kyphon Inc., an international, publicly-traded medical device company headquartered in Sunnyvale, California has purchased a 19,200 sf building at the NorthCross Business Campus in Huntersville.

KCI Expands Charlotte Office
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Kinetic Concepts, Inc. has expanded its Charlotte Medicare billing operations including their Coordinators of Patient Administration department (COPA).

Charlotte School of Law Chooses Permanent Location
Monday, June 25, 2007
The Charlotte School of Law (CharlotteLaw), part of the InfiLaw Consortium of Independent Law Schools, has chosen its permanent location for the school next to historic Bryant Park at the Western Gateway to Charlotte’s Center City District.

Regus Group Expands - Two New Executive Suite Locations
Monday, June 11, 2007
The Regus Group, the world’s largest provider of fully furnished and equipped offices has expanded its presence with two new locations in Charlotte.

Socialserve.com Expands National Call Center in Charlotte
Friday, June 1, 2007
Socialserve.com, the largest U.S. provider of affordable housing referral service, is expanding its national call center in Charlotte.

Diamond Manufacturing Expands Charlotte Operation
Thursday, May 17, 2007
North America’s largest sheet metal perforator, Diamond Manufacturing Company of Wyoming, PA, is expanding its Charlotte presence.

Murphy & Company Opens Charlotte Office
Friday, May 11, 2007
Murphy & Company, a high-tech marketing and web development firm based in Greenwich, Connecticut, has opened an expansion office in Charlotte.

Convergys Doubles the Number of Employees Needed for New Charlotte Contact Center
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Convergys Corporation plans to employ 400 additional people at its new Charlotte contact center.