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Charlotte Welcomes Two Financial Services Offices as Hiring Expands
Daimler Truck Financial Services and Capital Group have opened new Charlotte offices, together planning nearly 950 employees. The moves signal growth in the city’s…
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Sun Belt America
Sun Belt America follows the population shifts reshaping the South and Southwest, from migration and housing to jobs, education, development and the changing suburbs where much of America’s growth is taking place.
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Community Voice
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Shuttered South Carolina Textile Plant Set for $216 Million Revival
A closed textile plant in Honea Path, South Carolina, will reopen as a wood products factory producing pine building materials. The $215 million project…
Caterpillar Plans $1 Billion North Carolina Manufacturing Expansion
Caterpillar will invest $1 billion in a Sanford, North Carolina factory to boost production of construction and landscaping equipment. The expansion includes automation and…
How Much Does the Sun Belt Borrow From Libraries? The Gap Is Huge
Library borrowing in the Sun Belt varies markedly, with North Carolina approaching national averages and Mississippi near the bottom, while Texas leads in total…
Sun Belt Home Prices Are Flattening. Buyers Still Can’t Afford Them
Home price growth has slowed across the Sun Belt states, but higher mortgage rates and local expenses keep housing affordability low. Georgia’s home prices…
Training for Louisiana’s new steel jobs can begin now, college says
Louisiana’s River Parishes Community College is accepting students in degree programs preparing for steel industry jobs before its Hyundai Training Center opens in 2028.…
Oklahoma’s $4 Billion Aluminum Project Promises 1,000 Jobs as Permit Fight Continues
Oklahoma's planned $4 billion aluminum plant in Inola promises 1,000 permanent jobs but faces a permit moratorium and environmental concerns raised by residents.
10 of 11 States Above the National Poverty Rate Are in the South
The South is the fastest-growing region in the US yet also includes most states with poverty rates above the national average. Rapid growth coexists…
A $400 Million South Carolina Factory Expansion Will Create 105 Jobs
Okonite will build a new factory in Orangeburg, South Carolina, investing $400 million and adding 105 jobs. The facility will produce high-voltage electrical cables…
Waymo’s Texas Robotaxi Fleet Grew 49% in Three Weeks
Waymo sharply increased its Texas robotaxi fleet to over 1,100 vehicles, expanding service in Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. This growth highlights the…
Food Lion Sets Fall Opening Dates Across the Carolinas and Georgia, Signals More Growth in 2027
Food Lion is opening new grocery stores across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia throughout 2026, with more growth planned in 2027. The company…
Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi Are Competing for the Next Generation of Megaprojects
Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi are competing for huge investments from SpaceX and xAI in semiconductor plants, launch complexes, and AI data centers. These projects…