This Charlotte asset is worth $37 billion to state economy, study finds
Charlotte Business Journal January 3rd, 2026 Charlotte Douglas International Airport generated $36.6 billion worth of economic activity in 2023, accounting for 42% of all aviation-related output across the state, according to a new study. The N.C. Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation published the findings on Friday. The state conducts the study, “North Carolina: The State of…
Lenovo Center development plan advances, despite safety concerns from Cardinal Gibbons
WRAL News 2/11/25 The long-anticipated development project around Raleigh’s Lenovo Center moved one step closer to becoming reality Tuesday when the city’s Planning Commission unanimously approved the site’s rezoning application. But dozens of students and leaders from Cardinal Gibbons, the private Catholic high school that sits across the street, attended the meeting to voice concerns…
Asheville, Buncombe hotel sales declined 74% in October, 57% in November after Helene
Asheville Citizens Times January 30th, 2025 The full impacts on Buncombe County’s tourism industry — which buoys many regional employers, restaurants and attractions — came into focus during the Jan. 29 Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority Board meeting, with the authority providing a clearer image of how deeply lodging sales were impacted by Tropical Storm…
Raleigh tops Milken Institute ranking of top cities
Business NC 1/15/25 Raleigh’s relative affordable housing is a big factor in its jump to the No. 1 spot on the Milken Institute’s rankings of the country’s best-performing cities. Raleigh ranked second in 2023, surging to the top after last year’s top-ranked city, Austin, Texas, slid to sixth. The Raleigh ranking reflects the metropolitan statistical area…
Durham lifts ban on giving tents to homeless amid ‘astronomical’ rise in unsheltered
The News & Observer | December 28th, 2024 As wet and cold winter weather settles in, Durham city workers can resume giving tents to people without shelter. Last week, the City Council said it wants HEART workers to be able to hand out tents again, while a broader encampment policy is being worked on. HEART…
On WNC visit, Gov.-elect Josh Stein encourages tourism to return
WUNC North Carolina Public Radio | December 13th, 2024 North Carolina Governor-elect and Attorney General Josh Stein visited Asheville on Thursday to support local businesses and thank individuals for their work helping others during and after Hurricane Helene. “Folks need to understand that Asheville, that the rest of Western North Carolina is open for business,”…
North Carolina Aviation Industry contributes $88B annually to state economy; economic output data reported for local airports
Greater Fayetteville Business Journal | Janauary 4th, 2025 North Carolina’s aviation industry contributes $88 billion each year to the state’s economy and supports more than 427,000 jobs statewide, according to the 2025 North Carolina: The State of Aviation report released today, Jan. 3. The N.C. Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation released the report to highlight the…
Study Shows Economic Value of North Carolina Ski Industry
From Ski Area Management– Banner Elk, N.C., Dec. 22, 2023—A study commissioned by the North Carolina Ski Areas Association (NCSAA) found that the state’s six operating alpine ski areas had an overall economic value of $244.3 million for the 2022-23 winter season, including visitor expenditures and ski area revenues as well as indirect and induced…