Signs Point To Economic Recovery In Greensboro
A newly released study says that Greensboro is making an economic recovery from a recession that hit the city hard.
The annual growth and development trends report points to dropping poverty and unemployment rates, as well as increasing wages.
The report was prepared by the city's planning department.
Sue Schwartz, the director of the department, tells the News and Record that a drop in the city's poverty rate is “very heartening."
Schwartz also says the unemployment rate fell 31 percent between 2012 and 2014, returning it to pre-recession levels.
And investment in the city is improving, with a rising number of site plans for commercial and residential projects.
The report shows that population-wise, Greensboro remains North Carolina's third-largest city behind Charlotte and Raleigh.
High Point Police Chief Resigning
High Point's Police Chief is stepping down. Marty Sumner's retirement will end a 30-year career in Triad law enforcement.
Sumner, a native of High Point, has been chief for four years. But his tenure with the department goes back to 1985, when he joined the department as a patrol officer. He rose through the ranks, being named chief in 2012.
That's the first time in 20 years that a chief was named from within the department.
As chief he has continued the department's focus on repeat violent offenders and led a crackdown on heroin dealers after a wave of overdoses in 2014.
The city will hold a public forum in two weeks to give the community a chance to say what they want in the next chief.
Durham-based Developmental Associates has been hired to help conduct a national search for Sumner's replacement.
New Coal Ash Guidelines Face Criticism
The state recently issued a new classification system for coal ash ponds.The proposed guidelines prioritize the sites for cleanup.
The four high priority sites were already established in an earlier law. One of those is the Duke Energy's site on the Dan River. What's new is the classification of intermediate and low priority sites.
State officials say it will determine a deadline for when each coal ash pond must be closed.
But critics say it's not enough to protect residents who live near the sites because of potential health impacts. Amy Adams with the environmental group Appalachian Voices says the state has even advised some residents not to use their water for drinking or cooking in these areas.
Public hearings on the proposed classifications will take place in the next two months. The final recommendations are expected early this summer.
Gov. Mccrory, Piedmont Gas CEO To Speak At NC Economic Forum
Business and industry leaders are gathering to discuss how the state's economy may perform in 2016 as everyone eyes elections later this year.
The North Carolina Bankers Association and North Carolina Chamber are hosting their annual Economic Forecast Forum Wednesday in Durham. It's the 14th year many of the state's most powerful and influential leaders have assembled to talk about what changes could be ahead.
Gov. Pat McCrory and Piedmont Natural Gas CEO Thomas Skains were among the highlighted scheduled speakers. Skains plans to retire when the sale of his Charlotte-based company is completed later this year by Duke Energy, McCrory's former employer and the country's largest electric company.
Bridgestone To Expand Wilson Tire Plant Without Adding Jobs
Bridgestone Americas is investing $164 million to expand the company's North Carolina passenger tire factory.
Bridgestone Americas spokeswoman Emily Richard said Tuesday the five-year process is not expected to increase employment but means a stronger future for the 42-year-old Wilson plant.
Bridgestone expects to add space and update machinery so that the plant increases production capacity of passenger and light-truck tires by 3,000 tires a day to 35,000 by 2018. The company expects to break ground within months.
North Carolina Commerce Department spokesman David Rhoades said Bridgestone's decision comes without any special tax breaks or other state incentives.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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