U.S. business leaders’ confidence in the economy rose nearly 12 percent following the close of the second quarter, according to accounting firm Grant Thornton’s Business Optimism Index. The optimism index rose to 60.9, up from 54.5 three months earlier, with 58 percent of the respondents reporting that they expected to come out of the recession [...]
Entries from September 2009
September 22, 2009
Carolina Ingredients plans Rock Hill plant
Pineville-based Carolina Ingredients Inc. plans to open a $4 million facility in Rock Hill that will have 45 employees. The company will start with 25 jobs in an existing building. It expects to expand to 45 positions within five years. “Our company has seen substantial growth over the years, and this new facility will allow [...]
September 22, 2009
N.C. Sustainable Energy Association opens Charlotte office
The N.C. Sustainable Energy Association has opened an office in Charlotte, moving for the first time beyond its base in the Research Triangle. Joel Olsen, managing director of the newly established O2 Energies Inc. in Cornelius, has volunteered to be acting head of the Charlotte office. The association plans to hire full time staffer to [...]
September 22, 2009
Businesses gain from solar funds
Federal start-up dollars for a state solar research institution are on the way, and the beneficiaries will be businesses across the state. Last week Gov. Phil Bredesen announced the state would receive $62.5 million in anticipated stimulus funding from the Department of Energy for the Tennessee Solar Institute, which will get, of that, $31.5 million. [...]
September 22, 2009
Town of Farragut and church partner to fight unemployment
People laid off from work often ask, “What now?” First Baptist Concord and the town of Farragut are joining forces to help those people survive unemployment. The seminar at Farragut Town Hall was called “What now? 7 steps to surviving unemployment.” It’s part of the HOPE ministry of First Baptist Concord. HOPE stands for Helping [...]
September 22, 2009
Rain helps some Knoxville businesses flourish
It seems like the rainy days will never end in Knoxville. Every time it rains really hard, the intersection of Cross Park Drive and Village Park Drive in West Knoxville floods. This is bad news for drivers, but good news for at least one business. “It looks like a big, big river and people are [...]
September 22, 2009
BMW to add shift in Greer as demand grows
BMW said Monday it will add another shift at its local plant next month in the first sign of a turnaround since a sudden plunge in auto sales last year led to the layoff of 1,000 contract workers. Bobby Hitt, spokesman for BMW Manufacturing Co. near Greer, said the decision to expand the number of [...]
September 22, 2009
Asheville Regional Airport to offer nonstop flights to Chicago
United Airlines will offer two nonstop flights daily between Asheville Regional Airport and Chicago starting Dec. 17, the airport said Monday. In addition to easing travel to one of the most popular destinations for Asheville air passengers, the move should improve access to a number of destinations in the West, Midwest and overseas that United [...]
September 22, 2009
Duct cleaning franchise opens
Wade Patterson has opened a local franchise of Ductz, a national company dedicated to the cleaning of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and duct work. The franchise, which will serve the greater Asheville and Hendersonville areas, is located at 1628 Norwood Place. The company offers duct cleaning services after fire and water damage, as [...]
September 17, 2009
Stimulus funds help Tennessee sustain construction jobs
President Barack Obama’s transportation stimulus package will help Tennessee construction workers stay on the job. But just how many is hard to say, a statewide survey of contractors shows. And while the owners of construction firms are grateful for the $472 million worth of projects already awarded, they warn that the jobs are short term [...]
